Premium
Ex‐clients' evaluation of bereavement counselling in a voluntary sector agency
Author(s) -
Gallagher Mary,
Tracey Anne,
Millar Rob
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
psychology and psychotherapy: theory, research and practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.102
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 2044-8341
pISSN - 1476-0835
DOI - 10.1348/147608304x21392
Subject(s) - agency (philosophy) , turnover , voluntary sector , reputation , service (business) , voluntary association , perspective (graphical) , psychology , sample (material) , medicine , nursing , family medicine , business , public relations , political science , sociology , management , marketing , social science , artificial intelligence , law , economics , chemistry , chromatography , computer science
This study aims to carry out an evaluation of bereavement counselling provided by a voluntary charity from the perspective of clients who had availed themselves of the service. A questionnaire survey of ex‐clients of one branch of a major voluntary sector bereavement care organization was carried out. Based on a sample of 89 returned questionnaires (representing a response rate of 45%), findings indicated that paraprofessional voluntary counsellors can provide a counselling service to bereaved people that satisfies the majority of clients who report positive experiences in counselling and post‐counselling outcomes, and generally rate their counselling as helpful. Nonetheless, there was a minority of ex‐clients who did not regard their status, 6 weeks after counselling, as being more positive. Further, the reputation of the voluntary agency within the community and among potential referrers and ex‐clients appears strong, offering additional positive evidence of the status of their bereavement counselling service in the locality.