About Counselling For Social Change
Counselling for Social Change was created in 2012 with the mission of providing affordable counselling and trauma-informed emotional support. We want to help transform lives and empower communities.
We believe your emotional health is best supported through a deep, interpersonal connection. Our vision is a world where mental health needs are recognised as natural responses to our personal and cultural experiences. We provide a nurturing environment where you can explore your journey safely and feel supported in a way that respects all backgrounds.
Our service focuses on your unique needs, delivering person-centred, integrative, and pluralistic counselling in person and remotely. We are here to help you navigate your personal challenges.
Our Trustees
Lucy Allen
Lucy is an integrative counsellor. Her approach includes person-centred, mindfulness, experiential and psychodynamic interventions. Lucy started with C4SC as a trainee therapist before offering her time as a trustee. As well as being a therapist, Lucy as many years of experience in marketing and campaign management.
Alison Harmer
Ali started volunteering with C4SC as a counsellor-in-training and continued this work post-qualification prior to becoming a Trustee. Part of her work was with people who have experienced varying personal/ emotional concerns as well as providing counselling to people involved in a range of campaigns. Ali believes everyone should be able to access counselling which is a reason for her continuing role with C4SC. Ali has a background in management, having worked in the NHS for many years.
Frea Lockley
Frea is a journalist and writer. She joined Counselling for Social Change as she is passionate about ensuring low cost counselling is available to people on low incomes. She brings a wealth of experience as a campaigner and organiser.
Bee Sheldon-Howkins
Bee volunteered as a counsellor with C4SC from 2013 until 2017 before becoming a trustee. She now works as a mental health nurse in the NHS and is interested in trying to do this in as trauma informed and person centred a way as possible. Bee has overcome her own struggles with emotional well-being, bringing a valuable lived experience perspective to the table.
Management Team
Clayton Elliott - Manager & Senior Counsellor
As well as being one of the founders of C4SC, Clayton is our manager and senior counsellor. He has been a counsellor for over 10 years and has worked with people with a wide range of emotional/personal issues (anxiety, depression, abuse etc). As well as working with C4SC he works in private practice. Clayton has been involved in social justice and environmental campaigning and has provided counselling support to people from a wide range of campaigns (e.g. BLM, environmental, LGBTQIA+ campaigners, human rights campaigners and more). He has been the Finance Director for numerous community-owned companies across Cornwall.
Maria Michalakopoulou - Administrator
Maria is a highly experienced counsellor and clinical supervisor. At C4SC, she wears many hats; providing individual therapy, group supervision and overseeing the vital administrative work that keeps our low-cost services accessible. Maria helps ensure our team maintains the highest standards, offering a safe and supportive environment for both our practitioners and clients.
Lisa Topf - Outreach Coordinator
Lisa is our bridge to the local community. She spends much of her time building links with other charities and local groups to help improve mental health access. Lisa is currently the driving force behind Safe Harbour, our Local Employer Assistance Programme. She is working closely with local businesses and community projects, to help them support their staff’s mental health through affordable, high-quality therapy. Because Lisa is also a qualified counsellor, she brings a real sense of empathy and professional insight to everything she does.