Diverse Cultures - Counselling service

Saroj Sharma, Counsellor

Leaflet in English.
Leaflet in Punjabi.
Leaflet in Urdu

I am in my third year working for the Department of Psychological Therapies as Counsellor for Diverse Cultures. This year has been particularly difficult in many ways but rewarding and amazing that I am here to do my job having gone through immense changes in my own person life with health issues (‘I am a celebrity – get me out of here’ having been on GMTV, BBC1 Midlands Today, Shropshire Radio, BBC Asian Network and in other articles in newspapers). Work wise it has also been challenging. By that I mean, when you identify gaps in services and given the opportunity to fill some of those gaps it becomes a mammoth task for one person. I have enjoyed all aspects of my work, having the support of Managers, able to speak and be heard, and having the chance to carry out the work.

Report of the service from July 2006 - March 2007

I was given the opportunity to run a pilot programme in Panjabi/Urdu ‘The Sahara Group’ for 12 weeks with initially 12 women which was successful and positive outcomes were attained. This programme was adapted for women from South Asia living in the Telford and Wrekin area. Sahara means support in Hindi/Panjabi/Urdu.