It is a free service provided by the Borough, under the umbrella of Havering Teenage Pregnancy Partnership Board.

It is open to those who live, work or are educated in Havering.

Phoenix can see young people up to the age of 20, or 25 if they have special needs.

Where is Phoenix?
The service is based at Youth Zone in the High Street, Central Romford.

Who is Phoenix for?
Our client group is young women who are pregnant, who have had or are thinking of having an abortion, as well as young mums. The experienced counsellor can also see young women who are likely to or who want to become pregnant, as well as partners of any of these young women.

What can counselling offer me?
Counsellors are professionally trained to offer clients support and empathy with whatever difficult issues and feelings they may be experiencing. Your counsellor will work to build an open, non-judgemental and understanding relationship with you to help you to feel able to talk about whatever is troubling you.
Counselling can help you explore your emotions, thoughts and behaviour, and this process and the acceptance offered by the counsellor, can help you to find solutions to your problems as well as improve your self-esteem.

What about confidentiality?
What is said between a client and counsellor is confidential. However, if something said by a client suggests that serious harm may occur to her or him or to someone else, confidentiality may be breached. Your counsellor would, if possible, discuss this with you beforehand.

How does Phoenix work?
Clients can either refer themselves by coming into Youth Zone and completing a form, or can be referred by other agencies in Havering such as schools and colleges, Connexions, GPs, Midwives, Leaving Care, Social Services and many others.
The young person will then be contacted to arrange a first meeting for an assessment. This can be held at Youth Zone, or if the client prefers, another appropriate agency building.
The purpose of the assessment is for the counsellor to learn about what is going on in the young person’s life and for the young person to learn what counselling can offer and whether it is suitable for her/him. If it is, the young person will be contacted as soon as a session time becomes available, so that counselling can begin.
Sessions last up to 50 minutes and clients can have up to 12 weekly sessions. Clients are asked to inform their counsellor if they are unable to attend a session.

If you have any questions:
Contact Joanna Smith, Teenage Pregnancy Counsellor
Tel : 01708767375 Mob: 07946 356963
e-mail: joanna.smith@havering.gov.uk
Or call into Youth Zone, 10 Hedley Close, High Street, Romford RM1 1AH,
Open 2pm – 5pm each day from Monday to Friday.