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

Volunteer Counsellors

The Listening Centre (TLC) offers an opportunity for trainee counsellors and psychotherapists to work with individual adult clients on a time-limited basis (up to 26 weeks) whilst completing their training and working towards accreditation.

TLC is committed to ensuring that we encompass a wide variety of therapeutic approaches;

We are committed to ensuring that no-one is discriminated against on the grounds of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or disability;

We accept counsellors, psychotherapists and counselling psychologists who are currently in training on recognised training courses;

We are committed to ensuring a range of experience within the team so that some of our volunteers are nearing the end of their training or qualified to Diploma level;

We expect that volunteers will stay for a minimum of one or two years and will move on from TLC to paid work or private practice as they gain the necessary experience.

Selection Process:

The Listening Centre does not actively advertise itself as a placement agency or recruit volunteers, but relies on course contacts. 

1) Initial contact is made, and applicants are given general information and background details of TLC, along with an application form to complete;

2) Application forms are held on file.

3) When a vacancy arises, current applicants will be contacted again to confirm their continued interest and ascertain their availability for the particular vacancy.

4) Applicants on the list will be invited to an initial informal individual meeting with a Trustee.

5) Individual formal interviews will then be arranged.

6) The following criteria will be considered in deciding whether to offer a place:

• Currently studying for a qualification recognised by a professional body
• Undertaking personal therapy
• Being in supervision
• Ability to form clearly boundaried working relationships with clients
• Ability to reflect on own process and responses to client material
• Ability to offer support and containment
• Ability to challenge appropriately and manage conflict
• Ability to make a contribution to the life of TLC

Where there are more applicants fulfilling the criteria above than places available we will also take into consideration:

• The gender balance of the team
• The balance of counselling approaches in the team
• The geographical base of the candidate - with preference being given to those living nearer to Oxford.

7) For successful applicants, three references are required which will be taken up before the counsellor takes up their post.

8) An induction meeting is arranged with the new volunteer before client work begins. Support is enhanced by a mentoring system, peer support groups, an initial 3-month review and annual reviews.

9) Counsellors are expected to make their own supervision arrangements which meet either the requirements of their BACP accredited course or BACP minimum requirements of 1.5 hrs per month.

10) TLC operates an Equal Opportunities Policy, a Health & Safety Policy, Grievance and Discipline Procedures and a Complaints Policy.

11) TLC adheres to the BACP Ethical Framework for Counsellors and Psychotherapists.

12) TLC internal communications are key to its efficient functioning. All TLC volunteers need to be regular users of email and be able to handle online resources and word processed documents.

Fundraising Latest:

We collected over £1200 in donations at the Radley College production of "Les Miserables" - the first opportunity to use our new display stands.

Our thanks are due to the parents and staff who helped towards this magnificent total.