“At Focus, we want to meet people wherever they are in life. Creating a safe space where clients can feel heard and accepted is important to us. We celebrate each person and strive to help clients find a way through” Helen Marton, Chief Executive
Our Vision
To improve mental health in the BANES area and beyond through affordable, professional, and authentic counselling, regardless of background. To create confidential, safe spaces for the exploration of feelings through much-needed support groups that target areas of mental health.
Our Values
Our services are delivered within the context of a Person-Centred, Christian ethos which takes people’s spirituality seriously and respects the views of those with other faiths or no faith. Clients can talk freely and confidentially without fear of being judged. We value the fundamental worth of all human beings and the belief that within us all is the capacity for learning and growth.
Our Mission
To offer affordable counselling to all, whether adults, children, teenagers or couples. We are also committed to helping the development and skills of trainee counsellors and offer quality placements.
More About Us
Focus was established in 1999 in the heart of Bath with the visionary aim of responding to the growing need of people needing access to professional and affordable counselling. Since then, Focus has become an established service, meeting the mental health needs of people in Bath, Frome, Wells and the surrounding areas.
Focus works with GP surgeries, drugs and alcohol agencies, churches, housing associations, schools, universities, the police, social services and other counselling agencies and more. We offer counselling to all - children, young people and adults - and have funding available for those individuals on a low income.
We support over 100 clients each week to move forward with their difficulties and our staff numbers over 30 people. We value excellence, so our counsellors are professionally trained to Diploma level or above, and enjoy ongoing supervision and professional development throughout their time at Focus. We also take trainee counsellors each academic year.
Focus has grown into a professional counselling agency and is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC) and we are adhere to BACP’s Ethical Framework for Good Practice and ACC’s Ethics and Practice.
Trustees include
Mr Andrew Stafford (Chair) Mr Simon Heale (Treasurer) Mr Edward Bayntun-Coward, Mrs Sandi Whitcroft and Mrs Pamela Critchley
Management include
Mrs Helen Marton (CEO), Mrs Philippa Spruit (Practice Manager, Bath), Ms Lucia Chadwick (Practice Manager, Frome) Ms Sue Marland (Practice Manager, Wells) and Mrs Jayne Burgess (Office & Finance Manager).
