Rapid Response Counselling

Counselling & emotional support

Counselling and emotional support for people having difficulty coming to terms with — or adapting to — their sight loss.

The Rapid Response Counselling Service provides counselling and emotional support to those who are having difficulty coming to terms with or adapting to their sight loss. There is also a befriending element to the service to help reduce isolation.

020 8423 5141 Free of charge
Raheel, MAB's Rapid Response Counsellor is listening intently to a lady as she talks about her problems.

Raheel, our Rapid Response Counsellor, listening to a service user.

Who runs the service

The service is operated by Raheel Razvi, who is a qualified counsellor and a BACP member.

How the service works

From referral to regular support.

Referrals may come from colleagues within the organisation, from local authorities, friends, relatives or through self-referrals.

  1. A referral comes in

    Referrals can come from colleagues, local authorities, friends and relatives — or you can refer yourself.

  2. Raheel makes contact

    On receiving a referral, Raheel will quickly make contact and arrange an initial visit based on the information received. The meeting allows the service user to discuss what they consider to be their main difficulties and what they would like to gain from the service.

  3. Regular appointments are arranged

    Regular appointments can then be arranged accordingly — fortnightly or less frequently, according to individual needs.

  4. Support that lasts

    The service is available to service users for a maximum period of 12 months to 2 years — and in some instances possibly longer.

Space to be heard.

People often find it helpful to talk through the difficulties they are experiencing, and the service includes counselling and befriending to allow people to express their feelings and to help overcome feelings of isolation and really feel heard and understood with what they are going through.

Service users receiving this service may also want to see a Support Worker or a Volunteer, as a range of support is often necessary.

A close up shot of a hand reaching for a box of tissues
The service offers a calm, confidential space to talk.

Without MAB, I don’t think I would be here. Your counsellor phones me every week. He has been so consistent. Without him, I would be six feet under.

Kelly, MAB service user

Other ways to access counselling

If you’d like counselling sooner.

Counselling can also be accessed via Action on Sight Loss on 020 7391 2022, or through a service user’s GP.

What does it cost me?

Our Rapid Response Counselling service is free of charge.

Any money we raise through our fundraising efforts is reinvested back into Middlesex Association for the Blind. If you’d like to help support the work we do, please consider making a donation, setting up a direct debit, or talk to us about leaving a legacy.

Visit our donate page

Find out more

Speak to our Head Office.

For further information on our Rapid Response Counselling, please contact our Head Office.

020 8423 5141