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  1. Our impact
  2. Case studies

Case studies

Case study 1

16 year old John* struggled with a sudden onset of depression and tried to take his life multiple times. John was referred to the What Centre by the Crisis Team at A&E after the most recent attempt. John did not trust any other professional and had initially refused any help that was provided.

John was offered sessions with one of the centre’s senior counsellors. During their sessions, John explored the reasons for his attempts and his serious self-harm issues. Together, they were able to identify safer coping strategies and continue to work through his difficult background, loss of motivation and self-hatred. A few months into his sessions, John shared that he had been abusing drugs that contributed to his mental health decline. He had also previously accidentally overdosed as a result of this. With his consent, his counsellor was able to get John support via Switch and empower him to attend those sessions. John has since stopped abusing drugs and has not had any suicide attempts. The counsellor was also able to have a discussion with John and his family to ensure that John felt supported at home.

As a centre we also liaised with social work team and highlighted his risk which helped him and his family get a designated social worker. His vulnerable younger brother was also offered counselling in the centre and sessions were moved around to accommodate the family so that both boys were seen (by two different counsellors) at the same time in the centre. Both counsellors, parents, the social worker and school teachers regularly attend Child in Need meetings to help ensure that both boys are on the right track.

John has worked over a period of time with his counsellor and has recently felt better to end counselling. John has felt overall better and looks bad at his “dark times as a learning curve. I almost don’t recognise who this other person was but I’m proud of how far I’ve come”. John left his last session with a joke with his counsellor about how she, “needed a raise”.

*not real name

 

Case study 2

Nigel, a 14 year old young person attended a counselling assessment at the What centre following a referral made by his mum. Nigel was uncommunicative, and seemed extremely depressed. During his assessment, Nigel expressed a high level of suicidal intent. It also came out during his assessment that Nigel identified as being transgender.

His assessing counsellor got Nigel’s consent to speak to his mother about his risk. While the counsellor spoke to Nigel’s mum in another room, another counsellor sat in with Nigel to keep him company. The two counsellors were able to work in tandem to ensure that the safety of the young person was managed but also to ensure that Nigel felt supported and held throughout. Nigel was sent to A&E and the crisis team who sent him back to the centre after an assessment.

When he returned, Nigel was then offered the option to attend Transparent, a transgender support group set up for young people. Nigel was initial hesitant due to his past experience in school with bullies in group settings. However, on his first session, Nigel was noticeably more active, and was much happier. He even exchanged numbers with another young person in the group. Nigel continued to attend the group and expressed that he “finally found a place” that was his.

During this time, Nigel was also offered a counselling appointment with a senior counsellor at the centre and is thriving. He is enjoying simultaneously working on his emotional issues via counselling but also meeting new people and having a sense of belonging in the Transparent group.

 

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  • Reporting Hate Crime

    Reporting Hate Crime

    The police don't tolerate hate crime, why should you? Reporting hate crime makes a difference. You can help prevent a hate crime happening to someone else in your community and other communities, and you can help the Police better understand hate crime and improve their responses to it, including making arrests. If you do not feel comfortable contacting the Police directly, The What? Centre can do so on your behalf. We can keep your identity anonymous, or pass on your details.

  • BAME group

    BAME group

    In addition to counselling with a specialist counsellor, the What? Centre also offers group support. The BAME Group can help you connect with like-minded people and provide you with a supportive network, give you a space to explore the unique challenges faced by BAME people and promote your well-being. The aim of this group will be exploring identity and self-acceptance. Please register to our first group session, which will then continue weekly.

  • Support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

    The What? Centre specialises in providing a range of support for young people who would like to explore their cultural, race or identity as well as just simply provided a safe space where the BAME community can come to. In addition to counselling (with our specialist counsellor) we provide a range of targeted group support for young people experiencing similar experiences.

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  • Support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities

    The What? Centre specialises in providing a range of support for young people who would like to explore their cultural, race or identity as well as just simply provided a safe space where the BAME community can come to. In addition to counselling (with our specialist counsellor) we provide a range of targeted group support for young people experiencing similar experiences.

  • Useful links

    Here you will find useful helplines, organisations, suggested apps and links to the latest news, updates and articles on a range of issues concerning young people.

  • Who we help

    Who we help

    Young people between the ages of 9 and 25 years old.

  • Accessibility

    We are committed to providing a website that is accessible to the widest possible audience, regardless of technology or ability.

  • Who we are

    Who we are

    An Advice & Counselling Service providing a high quality client centred service by fully qualified & experienced staff.

  • Reporting Hate Crime

    Reporting Hate Crime

    The police don't tolerate hate crime, why should you? Reporting hate crime makes a difference. You can help prevent a hate crime happening to someone else in your community and other communities, and you can help the Police better understand hate crime and improve their responses to it, including making arrests. If you do not feel comfortable contacting the Police directly, The What? Centre can do so on your behalf. We can keep your identity anonymous, or pass on your details.

  • Online services

    The What? Centre is able to provide counselling/advice and groups remotely and in the comfort of your own home

  • LGBTQ+

    The What? Centre specialises in providing a range of support for young people who would like to explore their gender identity and sexuality. In addition to counselling (with our specialist counsellor) we provide a range of targeted group support for young people experiencing similar experiences.

  • Group work

    We provide a range of support groups and workshops that cover anxiety management, anger management, LGBTQ and BAME issues

  • Donate

    Donate

    We are pioneering new ways to work with Young People.  Your donation will help change lives  - empowering young people to achieve their potential.  Donations go directly to providing individual counselling sessions for youngsters experiencing emotional pain.

Find us

The What? Centre       
23 Coventry Street      
Stourbridge                 
West Midlands             
DY8 1EP                      

The What? Centre Dudley
31 Priory Street
Dudley
West Midlands
DY1 1HA


+44 (0)1384 379992 (S) or (0)1384 885488 (D)
[email protected]

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Registered Charity No. 1064579 | Company Limited by Guarantee No.3415168 | BACP No. 115576

As part of guidelines on the Covid-19 pandemic, The What? Centre is continuing to operate as per normal but providing most services remotely. Our phone line remains open during normal office hours of 10am and 5pm (Mon to Fri). For a faster response, please email [email protected] . Please note that the What Centre is closed from 23rd December and will reopen on 4th Jan. 

For referrals into the service, please complete our referral form. Please note that we are experiencing a higher volume of referrals than usual so you will be contacted for the initial assessments within 2 to 4 weeks (with the exception of Christmas closure)