The Linden Centre is for:
anyone who is facing terminal illness or anyone who is caring for someone with a terminal illness.
anyone who feels anxious, overwhelmed or who is struggling to cope following a bereavement through terminal illness.
anyone who is suffering undue stress that reduces their capacity to cope with their illness or the serious illness of a friend or relative.
You can expect:
- to find compassionate support for the journey you are facing.
- to receive a warm welcome.
- to find a safe and comfortable environment.
- if appropriate, to be offered counselling that helps put sorrow into words.
- help in finding the support that you are looking for.
- to feel valued and that your choices will be respected.
- to be listened to by someone who will try and understand how your situation feels for you.
“The friend who can be silent with us in a moment of despair or confusion, who can stay with us in an hour of grief and bereavement, who can tolerate not knowing… not healing, not curing… that is a friend who cares” Henri Nouwen.
How do I get in touch if I want to use the Linden Centre Service?
Many people contact us directly themselves although if you prefer, your GP or another professional can refer you. Either way we will need to speak to you to make an appointment for an initial consultation.
What happens first?
Everyone that wishes to use the service will be offered an initial appointment with a well-qualified and experienced member of the team. This appointment should last between 30 minutes and 1 hour.
If someone is accompanying you they are welcome to have a drink in our reception or come into this first appointment with you if you wish.
The counsellor will help you explore your own situation and give you information about the different types of support that are available to you.
You are welcome to ask any questions and tell us about your particular circumstances and how you are feeling at this particular time.
If we cannot help then we will be able to point you in the direction of another service that may be able to.
If you need any further information before or after your appointment please contact our team in the office. We will do our best to help.
When you first come to the Centre you will be offered information about all the different types of support available so that you are clear about what is available to you and can make a choice about what will help you through this difficult time. Sometimes, this one chance to talk is enough, or you may decide on further help, such as:
Books and resources to help you through this difficult time, together with information about what you can expect during serious illness or bereavement.
A chance to meet others facing bereavement at our coffee mornings and evenings.
Counselling with one of our experienced team of counsellors on a one to one basis.
A listening ear and informal support from one of our Companion volunteers.
COASTAL – our adult grief group programme.
CASCADE – our support service for children facing bereavement.
Information Pack - Helping to support bereaved children.
Clinical psychology for patients facing serious and life threatening illness.
Informal Support Groups led by Service Users.
Confidentiality and our Client Agreement
Download a Support Referral Form
The counsellor will explain at the appointment about how long you have to wait for different services and how we manage waiting times. If you are on a waiting list for any of our services, you will be contacted by letter or phone to advise you when you have reached the top of the list.
We offer a range of support in our purpose built unit, the Linden Centre.
Counselling appointments available during office hours but some out of hours appointments may be available.
Trinity Hospice is an Organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
You are welcome to use the Linden Centre car park. If there are no spaces available there is ample parking on the road and in the large car park opposite.