Online one-to-one counselling for people affected by HIV in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, South-West London, and Essex.
METRO provides free individual counselling to people living with or affected by HIV. Sessions take place weekly online or telephone.
Counselling provides a safe and non-judgemental space for you to talk openly about whatever is impacting you. We offer 12 free online sessions. Counselling takes place on the same day at the same time every week, and sessions last for 50 minutes.
You need to be aged 18 or over, living, working or studying in Lambeth, Southwark, Lewisham, South-West London, or Essex and be affected by or living with HIV.
Email counselling@metrocharity.org.uk or call our mental health team on 020 8305 5009. You can refer yourself into the service, or be referred by someone who works with you (like a GP or clinic nurse).
We'll aim to respond to you as soon as possible. In the first instance, you'll be invited to an initial counselling assessment with a member of the counselling team. This will be a chance to discuss what has brought you to counselling, and whether METRO is the appropriate service to support you. If we decide to go ahead, you will be placed on our waiting list to see a counsellor.
Despite improvements in medication and sexual health care, people living with HIV still face stigma and a lack of understanding, which can negatively impact their emotional wellbeing. Some people feel isolated or rejected or have problems in their relationships. There are also unique challenges around sharing and telling others about HIV.
Our one-to-one counselling is provided by counsellors who understand how the emotional and social impact of HIV. It's a safe and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about whatever is affecting you.
People living with HIV are more likely to experience mental health issues, stigma and discrimination, which makes it vital that they have a safe space to get support.
We help people affected by HIV gain greater insight into themselves, their relationships and their life challenges.
Our specialist service is a safe space for people to talk to a professional who accepts and understands who they are. Through counselling, our clients are able to increase their sense of autonomy and emotional wellbeing as they develop their own strategies for dealing with the difficulties they may face.
We help people to increase their self-acceptance and feel more able to manage challenging situations in their lives. We also refer people to our other services, including for family support, sexual health, mental health, advocacy or HIV.