Seafarers and Fishermen

Seafarers and Fishermen

Relate NI is working with The Seafarers Charity to provide free counselling to current and retired seafarers, fishermen and anybody that works at sea, as well their family and dependants.

No matter whether you are the skipper of a fishing vessel, or a hairdresser on a passenger ferry, as long as you work at sea or have done in the past, we can provide 6 fully funded sessions for you, your partner, your children or the entire family together.

Our confidential counselling therapy can take place in person across Northern Ireland, as well online or over the phone, depending on your preference and availability.

In order to make a self-referral for you or a member of your family, all you have to do is contact the Seafarers’ Advice & Information Line (SAIL) using their online enquiry form here, or using the following contact details;

Freephone Telephone Number (between 10am-4pm): 0800 160 1842

advice@sailine.org.uk

Simply mention that you would like to avail of the free Relate NI Counselling sessions.

This is simply so that The Seafarers Charity can release the funding for your free counselling sessions. You won’t have to discuss your personal situation or reasons for seeking counselling support to anybody other than your personal counsellor.  

If you are experiencing any difficulty making a self-referral, or want to make a referral on behalf of an organisation, please email our communications & engagement officer stephenmaginn@relateni.org

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQS):

Who is eligible? 

  • Current serving and ex-fishing fleet, merchant navy, partners and their dependants

What is available?

  • Relationship Counselling for couples/individuals – up to 6 sessions
  • Family Counselling – up to 6 sessions
  • Children’s and Young People’s counselling – up to 6 sessions
  • Sex Therapy – up to 12 sessions

Where?

  • UK wide including locations across Northern Ireland
  • In person or by webcam or telephone, depending on your preference and availability
  • We will continue Face to Face counselling in a way that complies with current social distancing guidelines as long as it is safe to do so

What issues does Relate help with?

Some common reasons people seek support include:

  •         Couple relationships and their effects on children
  •         Working away causing tensions/making it hard to find or hold down a relationship
  •         Loneliness or loss related to relationships ending
  •         Covid-19 related tensions, loneliness, anxiety and grief
  •         affairs and trust issues
  •         Physical and or psychological issues with intimacy
  •         Family separation, step family relationships, new families
  •         Bullying, harassment, self-harm, school pressures impacting children and young people
  •         Other issues such as money worries, parenting, addictions causing rows and arguments
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“How Relate NI helps people”

Our counsellor was excellent and really helped me and my husband to resolve the niggles in our relationshipService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples
My counsellor was lovely, attentive and supportive. She helped me to understand my worth and for that, I will always be gratefulService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals
This service is invaluable. Such lovely people to meet and help you through difficult times.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples
The service was excellent, my counsellor was really good at getting us to open up and helping us to get to the root of our issues. We have definitely improved our communication since attending.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples
I found the Relationship MOT an excellent method of focusing on how we work as a couple and just as importantly, where we need to work. It was professional, insightful and well worth the time. It has reminded us of how much we have to be proud of in our relationship and why it is so important to occasionally review it with experts.Service Attended Relationship MOT
I would definitely recommend using the Relationship MOT service as a bit of a check in with your partner. I thought how the counsellor was able to steer the conversation was very insightful and nuanced. The MOT reminded us about why we are great together but also the importance of communication and respect.” “Our counsellor provided an outside perspective which immediately helped us to agree that we needed to stop and think with more kindness and empathy for each other especially when stressed or pissed off. We both felt that our counsellor’s excellent and gentle facilitation was quite invigorating. So many positives!Service Attended Relationship MOT 2
Very Interesting Content. I like the concept of preparing your relationship before you have problemsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 4
The face to face programme has made me feel connected with others experiencing similar thingsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 3
The workshops made me more confident to balance family life after the baby's arrivalService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 2
I now have a better understanding of myself, it is good to know that it is normal to have argumentsService Attended Sustaining Healthy Relationships – Surestart 1
I felt the weekly questionnaire, couples with the counsellor's understanding of my needs help contribute to my own understanding of my mental health and needs throughout.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals
I loved every session. Our counsellor listened to what we had to say and gave us helpful wee homework - would recommend this service to everybodyService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples
Our counsellor was a fantastic support - we now feel strong enough to continue working on our relationship togetherService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Couples
I had a very good counsellor that helped me through a lot and it has made me come out the other side.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling for Individuals
Counselling took us from a bad place to a good one and I would return if neededService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples
Been a lifeline to help us fall in love again - forever grateful!Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples
I would just like to say that when I first came for counselling I felt that I was drowning.  I have completed my sessions and I now feel that I can cope a lot better with everything.  Thank you for a brilliant service.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals
Thank you Relate NI for a good nights sleep.Service Attended Relate NI Kids Counselling
Really enjoyed Relate NI and I'm actually going to miss counselling.  I Found it helpful to find myself again. Very fair and equal within our relationship.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples
I appreciated the straightforward, helpful and informed observations about situations. It really helped me cope during Christmas which is a difficult time for usService Attended Family Counselling
The counsellor was very pleasant to meet with.  They had the necessary skills to speak and listen when appropriate.  I liked their humour and good personality.Service Attended Family Counselling
Relate NI has helped me move on as well as understand myself and situation more.  My counsellor listened to me, facilitated me and was compassionate!Service Attended Relate NI Teen Counselling
I felt the weekly questionnaire, coupled with counsellor's understanding of my needs helped contribute to my own understanding of my mental health and needs throughoutService Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals
We had four funded sessions and cannot express how grateful we are for the help, guidance and knowledge. Our counsellor was incredibly professional, and her experience and obvious passion for helping couples like us was exceptional. She helped us to understand ourselves and each other like we otherwise never would have been able to.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Couples
I have tried counselling many times in the past. This time actually made a difference. I was able to complete online sessions as well as some face to face.Service Attended Adult Relationship Counselling For Individuals

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