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We
help people who are suffering from the effects of
alcohol misuse, either through their own
excessive drinking or because someone they are close
to (spouse, family member, friend) is drinking too
much.
We
also encourage those who do drink, to do so
responsibly, within safe limits and without causing
harm to themselves or others.
Our aim is to limit
the effects of alcohol misuse on individuals,
families and the community, by providing a range of
services and activities.
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Having become
aware of clients with drug problems we
commissioned a Drugs Rehabilitation Needs
Assessment Report earlier on in 2001 to
assess the need for OACAS to provide a
counselling service and how to best design
and develop such a service.
We help people
who are suffering from the effects of
substance misuse.
These substances
may be:
Drugs - prescription or illegal
Solvents
Aerosols
Substances must
be treated with respect. The misuse of
substances can lead to wide ranging problems
and considerable difficulties in various
areas of our lives: relationships with
family and friends, employment, finances,
health (physical and psychological) and
involvement with the law, amongst others.
Even small infrequent amounts of substance
use affects the behaviour of individuals to
some extent.
Most people who
develop a substance misuse problem would
previously have considered themselves to be
only a ‘recreational user’. The question is:
what caused the change?
Substance
abuse/misuse problems can occur for a
variety of reasons. It’s not only a matter
of the amount or type of
substance used, but of how, why and
where substances are used, and the
company they are used in.
This misuse may
be by either their own use, or
because someone they are close to (spouse,
family member, friend) is using drugs.
We can assist
those who want to reduce and/or terminate
their substance misuse; maintain their
rehabilitation; and help with relapse
problems.
Our aim is to
limit the effects of substance misuse on
individuals, families and the community, by
providing a range of services and
activities.
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We also offer
counselling and support to the friends and
families of anyone who may be misusing
alcohol or drugs.
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We
occasionally run a support group for
individuals who are affected by someone
else’s misuse of alcohol, and would rather
get together with others that are having
similar problems.
These sessions take place at OACAS's
premises at 6 Bridge Street Wynd in a
friendly and relaxed atmosphere.
For details
contact us
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Besides alcohol and drugs services we also
counsel other ‘Life Issues’,
such as:
Stress
Anger
Relationships
(Families/Partners/Friends)
Gambling
Low Self Esteem
Self-Harm
Coping Strategies
If you are
concerned about your own or someone else’s
lifestyle, you should talk to a counsellor
in confidence. Just talking to someone who
has the time to listen constructively can
help to relieve you of some of the burden of
any worries you may have - even if it is
only to get information, advice and/or
guidance. We have experienced counsellors
who can help.
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The Youth
Counselling Service is the evolution of our
Young Persons Alcohol Advisory Programme
(YPAAP) that we started in September 2002.
YPAAP was based on a scheme operated in
Paisley by Renfrew Council on Alcohol. It
had been developed because of the concerns
over the lack of follow-on services to
assist under-age drinkers, who had come to
the attention of the Police, Children’s
Reporter, Social Work and the NHS Orkney. In
addition to helping children it also
involved their parents, who often collude
unknowingly in their children’s drinking.
An early
intervention scheme – at the point of crisis
– was thought to be more effective than the
general addiction education available in the
schools at that time. The Aim of YPAAP was
to provide an integrated referral, alcohol
education and counselling service in Orkney
for the Police, Children’s Reporter, Social
Work and the NHS Orkney.
What do we offer?
We offer a
service which is designed to provide a safe
environment for young people to openly
discuss problems or issues they are having
in their personal life, where appropriate
within one week of initial contact or
referral. Which can be from the various
sources such
as: Careers Scotland; Children's Reporter;
Criminal Justice; Doctor; Family Members;
Home School Support Worker; Hostel House
Parent; Orkney College; Pastoral Care;
School; Social Work Children & Families;
Support Training. Young people can also
contact the Service directly by phone,
email, dropping-in or through a friend
already using the Service.
Since the
Service started running our Youth
Counsellors have found that there is a
distinct pattern emerging whereby a
significant number of their clients have
been ‘hard to reach’ young people, those who
are not only having difficulties with
statutory authorities, but also family,
school and their peers.
We are finding
that the intensive one-to-one approach to
these cases is just as, if not more
important, than group alcohol education
sessions. The number of sessions per client
depends on the individuals’ issues and how
he/she wishes to deal with them.
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Support With Adolescent
Transitions
The Orkney
Youth Counselling Service would like to take this
opportunity to let everyone know about their new
initiative the ‘Support With Adolescent Transitions’
Programme (SWAT Programme), which is supported by
Orkney LEADER with match funding from The Gannochy
Trust, The Bank of Scotland Foundation, Slater Trust
and Orkney Rotarians & Lows and OACAS.
The ‘SWAT’
Programme developed from our evidence that making
the service more accessible (e.g. through In-School
provision) increased the awareness and uptake of the
therapeutic support available.
At the same time we were very aware that not
all young people have the same level of access
particularly those from the Isles and it was also
noticed that a significant proportion of our
clients, from the Isles, were finding transitions
challenging and the move to mainland Orkney an
especially vulnerable time for them.
Our
initiative seeks to enhance the support already in
place via other agencies and our In-School provision
and also draw on the experience and skills of the
adolescents who have already made transitions.
The plan is to not only provide 1:1
counselling support but also to develop a peer
mentoring programme, with the schools, which will
enable and facilitate support for young people by
young people and try to ensure a sustainable network
for them into the future.
We thank all
the organisations above for providing the funds and
also everyone who has given of their time and skills
to develop this part of our service including: the
schools; our Steering Group; OIC Dept of Education
and University of Strathclyde.
If anyone
would like further information please get in touch
with Renate Andrews or June Anderson via OACAS on
01856 874738.
”This project
is part-funded by the Orkney LEADER Programme
2007-2013”
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