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About Gill
Gill is originally from a social work background, specialising in Mental Health. She has worked with Relate and counselled in Primary Care for 10 years. She lives just over the border in Wales and is a Reader in St Asaph diocese.
What do I do?
· Co-ordinate the Diocesan Counselling Service. This is for members of congregations, lay-workers and clergy. We have 16 counsellors across the diocese, who are professionally trained and are committed Christians. People can self-refer to Gill who will then allocate a suitable counsellor. A wide variety of situations and difficulties are covered, but where we cannot help (e.g. those under 18 years of age, where there is substance abuse, some mental disorders or where there is no counsellor geographically accessible) then Gill can discuss possible alternatives.
· Available for consultation regarding pastoral matters for clergy and lay workers carrying responsibility for pastoral care. This could be a phone call about a particular situation which is causing concern, to jointly consider what might be the best way forward. Or it might be visiting a group encountering particular dilemmas and issues in pastoral work.
· Visit parishes to facilitate a group of church workers thinking through plans to establish a counselling scheme.
· Encourage clergy individually or in groups to develop a healthy life/work balance and a sustainable pattern of ministry. Individual "consultative support" can be arranged, which provides an opportunity to reflect on how the job and role is impacting upon the person, and can be particularly useful at times of change and transition. I am also happy to respond to invitations to lead workshops or discussions with groups of clergy on related topics.
· Co-lead the Pastoral Worker Module 'Working with Volunteers and Teams' in co-operation with the Committee for Mission and Ministry and have regular input into clergy training events e.g. IMT, CME.
Contact details:
Gill Carding Head of Counselling
CSR
Church House
Lower Lane
Aldford
Chester CH3 6HP
Tel: 01978 854747
(this is a dedicated phone line accessed only by Gill)
E-mail: gill.carding@chester.anglican.org.
Gill works Monday to Thursday.
The best times to contact Gill: 9-10 am and 5-6 pm.
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