ALONGSIDE | emotional health
ALONGside: Empowering Emotional Health & Community Counselling
Through our ALONGside programme, we believe that emotional well-being is a fundamental part of a healthy life. Our mission is to ensure that high-quality, compassionate counselling is accessible to everyone in our community. Through our network of trained and qualified Community Counsellors, we offer short-term therapeutic intervention for those facing emotional, relational, or psychological challenges.
We also go beyond counselling. We train individuals who want to support others, equipping them with the knowledge and skills to walk alongside those in need. Additionally, we actively advocate for the recognition of Community Counsellors in South Africa, ensuring greater accessibility, professional legitimacy, and career opportunities in this vital field.
Professional Counselling That’s Accessible to Everyone
Our ALONGside Community Counsellors provide professional, short-term counselling services to individuals, couples, and families. We help people navigate challenges such as:
✔ Anxiety & Stress
✔ Depression & Emotional Struggles
✔ Relationship & Family Issues
✔ Grief & Loss
✔ Trauma & Life Transitions
While our services are not free, we operate on a donation-based model, ensuring that money is never a barrier to getting the help you need. If further or specialized care is required, we have a large referral network to connect clients with ongoing support from trusted professionals.
Seeking emotional support? Get in touch with us today to find a trained Community Counsellor who can walk alongside you.
Training & Equipping Community Counsellors
Are you passionate about helping others? Our ALONGside training program equips individuals with the skills and knowledge to provide meaningful support within their communities. Through structured courses and practical experience, we prepare individuals to:
🔹 Understand the foundations of emotional and mental well-being
🔹 Learn effective counselling and listening skills
🔹 Offer support for those facing emotional and relational struggles
🔹 Know when and how to refer individuals for additional care
All our courses are certified by CPSC (Council for Pastoral and Spiritual Counsellorshttps://www.cpsc.org.za/) and our Foundation and Advanced Counselling course curriculum is developed in partnership with Phillipi Trust internationally.
Advocating for the Recognition of Community Counsellors
In South Africa, there is a growing need for official recognition of Community Counsellors as a vital part of the mental health ecosystem. ALONGside is working to:
✅ Establish medical aid accessibility for community counselling services
✅ Create career pathways for Community Counsellors
✅ Ensure that counselling services are affordable and widely available
By championing these initiatives, we aim to make community counselling a viable and respected profession, ensuring that more people can access the emotional support they need.
Join Us in Transforming Emotional Health
Whether you need counselling, are interested in training, or want to support our advocacy efforts, ALONGside is here to make a difference. Together, we can ensure emotional health support is accessible, professional, and recognized across South Africa.