General
Counselling
Family services
Youth work
Training
Working for PACE
General
Will what I say be confidential?
Yes. PACE has a confidentiality policy that will be explained to you at your initial consultation.
How long will I have to wait before I get an appointment?
Waiting times vary according to service. We see people as quickly as possible but there may be a waiting list for some services. Please call us to find out on 020 7700 1323.
Can I come to Pace if I’m not sure whether I’m straight, gay, lesbian or bisexual?
Yes. The only criterion is that you are exploring issues around sexuality.
Can I come to Pace if I am bisexual or transgendered?
Yes. Anyone exploring issues around sexuality can come to PACE.
Can I come to Pace if I am straight?
If you are exploring issues around sexuality you can come to PACE.
How much does it cost?
We ask for a contribution from you in the counselling service but the other services are free.
Can I use more than one service at a time?
You would not be able to use the individual, couple and family therapy concurrently. However, other services, such as advocacy and counselling can be used at the same time.
I live outside London – can I still come to PACE?
Yes. All of our services are available to people who come from outside London except for our employment counselling.
Are the staff qualified?
They are all fully qualified or in the final part of their counselling training.
What events are taking place at PACE throughout the year?
To find out about our workshops and groups, please see the workshops pages of this site. Click here to join our mailing list.
What age range do you work with?
We have no limit on the upper age range and provide services for those under 18 in our family therapy service and our youth work service.
Are your services open to asylum seekers?All our services apart from employment coaching are open to everyone. The only criterion is that you are exploring issues around your sexuality.
Is there parking?Parking is by residential permit only 9.30-4.30. Outside these times parking is available. Bikes can be left outside the office.
How do I get to PACE?
Visit our contact us page for details.
Counselling
What kind of counselling do you do?
We offer counselling on a one-to-one basis, group work, couples, family counseling, employment counselling and practical support. We use a range of approaches, which will be discussed at your initial consultation.
Can I refer myself?
All our services are self referral
How much choice will I have regarding which counsellor I see?
We aim to give as much choice as possible regarding gender, ethnic origin and age of counsellor. However, the more specific your requirements, the longer you may have to wait for an appointment.
What will happen once I have made an initial contact?
We will talk with you to ascertain your needs and see how best we can meet them. You will then be referred to the most relevant service for you.
How many sessions will I get?
If, after an initial consultation, you decide that counselling at PACE is right for you, you will be offered up to twelve 50-minute sessions on a weekly basis.
What is your theoretical orientation?
Our counsellors come from a range of theoretical backgrounds and orientations. If there is one that you would particularly like to work with, please mention this when making your initial consultation.
Can I have counselling in the evenings or weekends?
We have sessions 10am – 8pm Monday to Thursdays and 10am – 5pm on Friday. We are closed at weekends.
Can I get counselling in another language?
We provide counselling in a number of different languages. Please contact us for more details on 020 7700 1323.
Am I too young to use your counselling service?
If you are under 18 you can use our youth service, which is for anyone aged 25 or under. This provides one-to-one advice and support.
Do I have to stop using before I come to see a drugs and alcohol counsellor?
No. You can come to see a drugs and alcohol counsellor if you are concerned about your drug/alcohol use and your mental health. You can either be aiming for abstinence or already abstinent.
Are your services confidential?
We are committed to following data protection confidentiality guidelines. We have a confidentiality policy that will be explained to you when you first come to PACE.
Family services
Do I need to bring my family/partner?
You can come alone, with your partner or your family. The only criterion is that you want to explore issues around families.
Will coming to PACE change my child’s sexuality?
No. Coming to PACE provides an opportunity to explore issues around sexuality but will not change sexuality itself.
Who is the family service for?
Our family support service offers free counselling, support and advice to all family members whatever their age or sexuality. It is designed to help lesbian and gay parents, heterosexual or bisexual parents and lesbians and gay men who are either thinking of adopting a child or who have already done so. It also offers same sex couple counselling as well as groups for people who want to address their concerns about their relationship or family issues.
Do I have to have children to get family counselling?
No. You can be thinking of having or adopting children or someone who wants to address your concerns about relationships of family issues.
Youth work
How old to I have to be to come to Pace?
The PACE youth services are for anyone aged 25 or under. You can also use our other services.
Training
Does PACE provide training?
PACE is one of the UK's leading training providers on diversity, HIV/AIDS and sexuality issues. We can provide you and your organisation with skills, knowledge and expertise on those issues via courses tailor-made for your organisation. Visit the training pages of this site for more details.
Working for PACE
How do I volunteer for Pace?
We have two sorts of volunteers at PACE – about 30 counselling volunteers and 12 mental health advocates. To find out more about becoming a volunteer, visit the working for PACE pages of this site.
