Counselling and Support Services
Here at Headway we understand that no one asks to suffer a brain injury, and no one wants to see a loved one have to survive it. Nobody can be prepared for this, and life seldom gives us the skills to deal with this type of situation. Surviving a brain injury means that you have survived a near death experience or have watched a loved one do so. Survivors and family members can experience post-traumatic distress, anxiety and stress related to all the changes that need to happen, and even depression in response to feeling hopeless or powerless.
A major challenge when seeking support for living with brain injury is that health practitioners might not have experience with brain injury and so may not be able to empathise and understand in the way that you need them to. Of course, finances can also be severely strained after a brain injury.
Headway Gauteng places psychology graduates and counselling students for their practical experience requirements. Our Support Team offers free, weekly, individual counselling sessions in-person and on various platforms for members of Headway. Our students are supervised and guided by an HPCSA Registered Counsellor. They are given training specific to the brain injury context, and expected to spend time with our members to develop their understanding.
Our best resource for support is our Headway Friendship Circle. HFC is a support group. It’s a place to connect with people who have first-hand experience of what you might be going through. During HFC meetings, we learn about brain injury and effective coping mechanisms, and invite the group to share their thoughts, concerns, fears, or progress. The magic of these meetings is that a member who has been living with brain injury for a few years might be the exact right guide for someone who is new to the journey. Our monthly meetings are open, free, and take place in-person at each branch, online on MS teams, and over WhatsApp text chat. Check our HFC calendar for the next meeting date.
The counselling and support programme has a library of digital resources for members, and we will always do our best to offer referrals or to advocate for our most vulnerable members.
You deserve support. Reach out to us.