The Harbour

The Harbour was founded in 1992 to support people living with HIV and Aids, at a time when a diagnosis was likely to be terminal. We have provided over 40,000 counselling sessions since; providing specialist, in-depth therapy to adults with a life-threatening illness, their loved ones and those who have been bereaved. Our professional team of counsellors believe that each of our clients’ experiences are unique, and for that reason we provide relationship-based, specialist support. We do not believe in strategies, or good and bad ways of responding to these experiences. Instead, we believe the opportunity to talk with an experienced counsellor can empower clients to find ways of talking about and working through their situation. In counselling, clients can confront their most challenging responses to death, dying and bereavement. Many of our clients have told us that building a trusting, therapeutic relationship with a counsellor has enabled them to share their most uncomfortable emotions. Last year, 93% of our clients rated their relationship with their counsellor as excellent or good.

‘As a society, we are still overwhelmingly uncomfortable talking about death, dying and bereavement, and in supporting people who are grieving’. UK Commission on Bereavement 2021. We know that an individual’s response to being affected by a life-threatening illness can bring up feelings that might be difficult to share with family and friends. The Harbour provides a space where these feelings are acknowledged and supported. As a result, last year 83% of clients reported reduced levels of anxiety and depression and 89% felt they were better at dealing with their problems, following their course of counselling at The Harbour.

“It has given me a new lease of life. It has made me more my old self. I have hope and my sense of optimism for the future has returned”. – Client quote

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