Wellbeing
We respect the value and dignity of each person within the church and seek to reach out, nurture and support all who are part of the Body of Christ. Chester Diocese offers a number of services which include: therapeutic counselling, consultative support for clergy and licensed workers, mediation, and training through the IME/CMD training programmes for clergy and pastoral workers.
There are many avenues of support available. The details of help available can be found below:
Chester Diocese resources
Spiritual Accompaniment: Ongoing regular support for personal spiritual life, with a curated list of those offering this ministry. Open to anyone in the diocese and recommended for all clergy and licensed lay ministers. More information here
Email: ministry@chester.anglican.org
Pastoral Supervision: Ongoing relational support for the tasks and challenges of ministry. Regular confidential supervision from trained and supervised supervisors. Recommended for and available only to clergy. Click here for a video with two clergy discussing their experience of pastoral supervision.
Email: ps@chester.anglican.org
Counselling: Offered to anyone within the diocese through confidential self-referral to a team of qualified counsellors, as well as through the Inter-diocesan Counselling Service. A time limited resource rather than a long term arrangement. More detailed information on counselling resources here.
IDCS Website: https://interdiocesancounsellingservice.org.uk
Email for Chester Diocesan Counselling service: counselling@chester.anglican.org
Mentoring: Support for a season for those stepping into new ministries or unfamiliar contexts, or who are facing a particular ministry-based problem to be worked through. Arranged by Bishops Advisor for Clergy Transitions with suitably experienced clergy. Recommended particularly for clergy in first post of responsibility.
Email: ministry@chester.anglican.org
Coaching: Short term, task-focussed support for clergy working with complex or challenging situations. Provided by trained and accountable volunteer coaches. Normally 3 sessions.
Email: ministry@chester.anglican.org
Mediation: Offered on a bespoke basis to parishes and other contexts experiencing conflict and relational difficulties. Provision for this service is currently limited but new resources are being explored.
Please don’t struggle without support. If you need help or advice not covered by the above resources, please email ministry@chester.anglican.org and we’ll do our best to signpost you in the right direction.
Other resources
The Supporting Good Mental Health booklet from the Church of England contains some daily reflections to provide hope, reassurance and comfort. It includes 'Have a go habits' to help you develop resilience and skills in dealing with isolation, struggles and busyness. It challenges you to be honest with yourself about how you are feeling day by day, and provides scripture and prayers to use in different situations.
Health Assured Employee Assistance Programme
The Diocese of Chester has partnered with Health Assured to provide an Employee Assistance Programme (despite the fact that clergy are not technically employees) for all clergy - stipendiary and SSMs - and Church House staff. The programme provides a free 24-hour confidential helpline, as well as proactive advice on matters such as families issues; legal information; medical information; financial information; stress and anxiety; bereavement; and addiction issues.
The Diocese works with Thrive Worldwide who provide support with employees and clergy who may need additional support. There is access to support from an Occupational Consultant and a Consultant Psychologist. If you feel you would benefit from their services, please contact:Liz Geddes E: liz.geddes@chester.anglican.org
This is a national network of advisers in pastoral care and counselling within Anglican churches. It includes an on-line directory of contacts in different dioceses.
Counselling Resources
Inter Diocesan Counselling Service
The Inter-Diocesan Counselling Service is able to offer counselling sessions to clergy and their partners, licensed lay ministers, retired clergy and children of clergy who are 18 years and over and who are dependent and still living at home. They can also offer sessions to ordinands.
For further information see: Inter-Diocesan Counselling Service
Chester Diocesan Counselling Service
Counselling services are coordinated by Peter Mackriell, Head of Counselling Services, and include both individual counselling and peer support. Peter will put you in touch with a counsellor suited to your particular needs. Alternatively, he can advise on other counselling agencies which may be better placed to provide help. A counselling session lasts for about an hour. The number and frequency of sessions varies greatly from client to client and can be discussed at the first appointment.
Who is it for?
Chester Diocesan Counselling Service is open to clergy, their families and church members within the Anglican churches of the Diocese of Chester.
Who are the counsellors?
Our counsellors are professionally qualified, many being involved in counselling in secular settings. All are members of one of the national bodies for counselling or psychotherapy. Most belong to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), some to the Association of Christian Counsellors (ACC), or the United Kingdom Council of Psychotherapists (UKCP). As such they work to that organisation’s Code of Ethics and are subject to its complaints procedures. They are committed Christians who offer their skills and a portion of their time on a voluntary basis. As counsellors they do not impose their own values or beliefs upon clients. They are, however, well placed to include the spiritual, religious and Christian dimension into the counselling process if the client indicates a wish for it.
How do I contact the service?
Contact Peter Mackriell on counselling@chester.anglican.org or by telephoning his dedicated, confidential number: 07918 732 806.