World Mental Health Day – 10th October
10/10/2025
This World Mental Health Day, we’re highlighting the power of early support. We believe
Marches Counselling Service
Our service
At Marches Counselling Service (MCS), we offer a service which helps people explore and work with the dissatisfaction they feel, whether that be with themselves, their situation, or the society they move within. We hope that we can find ways of helping someone feel more comfortable ‘in their own skins’ and more able to engage with the environment in which they find themselves. This can be challenging when we need to question assumptions we make about ourselves and others, but it does open the possibility for lasting change, change which can help us create the world we wish to live in.
Professional Therapists
We are a charity providing professional counselling and psychotherapy for people over the age of 18.
MCS is fully accredited by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and our counsellors have BACP accredited qualifications or are working towards them.
Our staff have developed their skills in a broad range of settings, including the NHS and the voluntary sector. Whilst we are not a service specializing in one particular area, we do have extensive experience and professional training in helping people with a wide range of problems.
We appreciate that when a client contacts us for counselling, it’s a big decision which has taken courage to pick up the phone or write an email. At the time of making that contact, the person is ready for counselling. We therefore work really hard to avoid a waiting list and to make sure they are seen as soon as possible.
We assess our client needs, issues and concerns at the first appointment with us. These are then matched to our most appropriate counsellor and types of counselling and psychotherapeutic approaches they can provide.
A client can then continue to see that counsellor for as long as they and their counsellor feel is appropriate and helpful to them.
Confidentiality is vital and we will are always mindful of this all aspects of our work.
Becoming a MCS client
Located in central Hereford our office has several therapy rooms where our therapists meet with clients.
We offer face to face assessments and sessions or they can take place online for those who have difficulty getting into Hereford. We are also developing our services further, offering face to face counselling in Bromyard, Ross, Peterchurch and elsewhere in Hereford for a trial period.
Appointments are mainly available throughout the week 9-5. We also have some availability outside normal working hours.
To initiate counselling with MCS, there are a few forms to complete. Once we have received these and payment for an assessment, we will put a new client in touch with an assessor for their first appointment, typically within 2-3 weeks. There is a set fee for assessment.
The second appointment will be with the counsellor who is matched to the client and their needs. Our clients contribute towards the cost of their counselling depending on their circumstances, subsidized by some of our funders.
For more information, please contact us by emailing or calling Di/Carys (administration) who are available between 9am and 1pm, Monday to Friday or leave a message on our confidential answer phone.
Counselling Sessions
At MCS we understand that each person is unique so we offer numerous approaches with counsellors trained in different traditions and different therapeutic approaches.
Each person treads their own path in life, their own unique journey, and we as therapists can walk alongside them for a while.
We can assist a client in helping recognise the difficulties, offering tools which may be useful, sometimes pointing out the dangers and often helping uncover the hidden treasures which these experiences bring.
In sessions a client will be able to explore:-
- what has happened to them
- where they are now
- where they want to be
- some of the ways to get there
Who we see
We have 4 assessors and up to 21 counsellors.
In any given month, our assessors see about 10 new clients, and our counsellors usually see over 70 clients for up to 5 sessions each.
Our clients are mainly from Hereford, across Herefordshire and the Marches.
Clients can contact MCS themselves and self refer. We also work with other organisations helping individuals and with businesses who with the individuals consent, can refer a person to us.
Our structure
The chart indicates the roles which underlie the functioning of the charity.
The overall responsibility for the governance of the organisation lies with the Trustees.
The day to day functioning is the responsibility of the Clinical Director and the Administrator, with the assistance of the Clinical Co-ordinator.
Together with the Clinical Director, the Supervisor/Assessors provide a Clinical Management Team which oversees the client work of the therapists, ensuring the duty of care of the service is maintained, and considers issues related to clinical practice such as ethics.
Therapists are formed into multi modal supervision groups under a supervisor, where a range of experience ensures that an effective learning environment is provided for all.
The working groups to the right are staffed by members with an interest in that aspect of the service.
Our Trustees
As a charity we are governed by our Trustees who contribute to the overall management and development of the service.
Our trustees are:
Tina Abbott
Graham Thomas
Jennifer French
Lorraine Slaine
Elizabeth Lloyd
Siobhan Donnelly
Tina Abbott
Tina is a BACP Registered and Senior Accredited Psychotherapist and Senior Accredited Supervisor with over 35 years’ experience in various settings including private practice, the NHS, Further and Higher Education, and in the charitable sector. She has significant experience in service management. She currently works in private practice as a psychotherapist, supervisor, institutional consultant, and group facilitator.
Details of our other Trustees will follow.
Our management and administrative staff
Meet a few of the management and administrative team members located in our central Hereford office.
Jen French – Clinical Director
Katrina Preston – Service Director
Carys Hodges – Development Officer
Di Castle – Administrator
Hannah Clarkson – Administrative Assistant
What our clients say about our service
The statements below are from some of the people who’ve finished their therapy with us.
I feel that counselling has helped me to stop and take stock of myself and my feelings. It has allowed me to feel ‘normal’ and get on with living.
I found acceptance here that had healing properties.
It helped me look at life more positively and not to be down on others. Excellent service and a great counsellor.
It was a very valuable experience for me and it has made great changes to my life in general, particularly my self-confidence. Thank you
My counsellor was lovely, good at listening and he certainly made me look at my life in a more positive way and encouraged ideas to improve things.
An incredible therapist who in my humble opinion was born to do what she does she has a natural gift and deep care for others well-being and never makes you feel judged enabling me to discuss things that have caused me shame and to move into compassion for myself and find forgiveness in my heart towards others
I want to thank you for helping me climb out of a very deep hole that has lasted many years
My counsellor was empathic, knowledgeable and insightful. I was able to trust her completely and felt safe, secure and heard.
Please get in touch to find out more
Appointments
Available M-F during daytime, in person or online.
There is also some evening & weekend availability.
Recent MCS news
New Publicity Material
10/10/2025
Wow – look at these postcards. Our marketing team have surpassed themselves with our
Reflective Practice Group: Fasting and Feasting in work
09/10/2025
The next Reflective Practice Group meets on 5th November 7-8 p.m. at our offices
