The Listening Centre (TLC) is a counselling service for Blackbird Leys and Oxford.

It is a registered charity (No. 1098571) and aims to provide a low-cost service for local people.

It is staffed by volunteers who are either qualified or in training. All have supervision and the service is professional and confidential.

We are happy to respond to any enquiries you may have about the service. We do have a waiting list for clients, as our present resources do not allow us to offer immediate appointments.

View TLC Constitution

View current Annual Report

We are grateful to FreeCharity for hosting this site

About TLC

The Listening Centre (TLC) was set up in 1993. Our aim is to offer a counselling service to people on limited incomes, who would otherwise be unable to afford the services of a counsellor in private practice.

We have a team of over twenty counsellors and therapists who work for TLC on a voluntary basis. The majority of these counsellors are in training.

How counselling could help you

People choose to see a counsellor for a number of reasons.

After a major life event such as a change in job, a bereavement or breaking up with a partner, individuals may recognise a need to address - in a structured way - feelings of sadness, anger, fear, or helplessness. Frequently, people realise that they are repeating patterns of behaviour, or types of relationship, that are self-defeating, and prevent them from reaching their full potential.

Seeing a counsellor involves creating a working relationship, where there is a shared exploration of the client’s experience of his or her life. The aim is for the client to develop a greater understanding of the choices they have in responding to their current life situation.

Contribute as much as you can afford

There is no fee for counselling, but we ask clients for an affordable contribution towards the administrative costs of the service. If you are in paid employment and able to make an increased contribution, this would be greatly appreciated. The cost to TLC of a counselling session is approximately £20

The administration of TLC is funded entirely from individual donations and money from Trusts and other grant-making bodies.

Confidentiality and ethics

All information disclosed to us is treated as confidential, in accordance with British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) guidelines. Your counsellor will discuss these with you when you meet. Good practice dictates that regardless of how well qualified a counsellor is, they should see a supervisor on a regular basis to discuss their work and maintain professional standards. All TLC counsellors receive regular supervision, and adhere to the code of ethics and practice set out by the BACP.

We can offer counselling sessions for up to 6 months.

The Listening Centre operates an Equal Opportunities Policy and has a Complaints procedure.

Making Music:

One of our trustees, David Colbourne, is a member of a local band which has a produced a CD. 

The band is donating copies to TLC, and you can obtain one by donating £12 or more with Gift Aid. 

If you would like to find out more, please visit

acousticedge.co.uk

If you don't want the CD, you can still use the online donation button - please feel free to click on it!