Counselling

Like many diseases Multiple Sclerosis involves adaptation and change for the person living with it. It brings a considerable degree of uncertainty into a person’s life. Any individual’s ability to cope depends on the support systems operating in their life on a day to day, week by week basis. Some people’s support systems are not as good as others, which in turn can make adjustment and coping difficult.

A diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis may throw a person into a tail spin and pose questions which are difficult to answer clearly. The lack of opportunity for someone to look at issues arising from their diagnosis of MS can engender an unnecessary level of anxiety and concern. The MS Counselling Service attempts to bridge that gap.

Counselling is a process between people where each person has an expectation of a possible outcome. It is the person entering the counselling process who sets the agenda. Some common issues which are dealt with are as follows:

•    How do I cope with MS?

•    Making decisions for oneself

•    Coping with stress

•    My children or spouse do not understand MS

There is no magic to the work of the counsellors. Many of those who are part of our network are trained psychologists, family therapists or psycho-sexual therapists. They are trained, skilled and experienced listeners.

The service is available to people with MS, their partners, families and significant people in their lives. They must want to use or at least try the service themselves. The counsellor’s role is to support them to clarify the issues, to deal with the feelings which surround them, and to help them feel free to take on the challenges which they are presented with. It is the individual who make the decisions, creates the agenda and takes action.

Referrals to our counselling service usually come through via our MS Helpline 1850 233 233 or Regional Community Services, other health professionals in the field or the medical profession. On referral a suitable counsellor is identified who will assess the need of the client in question. Different people may require different levels of counselling or support. This is taken into consideration in the delivery of service which, is generally free to all clients. The resources of the MS Society are limited in this field. There are often not sufficient counsellors to provide the service and as far as possible clients are expected to travel to meet the counsellor to defray any cost of travelling.