Our services

Counselling

MESMAC can offer counselling sessions delivered by counsellors with training and experience of how best to support LGBTQIA+ people.

Leeds
Bradford
Hull
South Yorkshire

This service runs differently in each area - choose your local area below for details:

To find out more about our current peer support groups or how to be referred for 1:1 sessions, please email Afrika at a.granger@mesmac.co.uk or call the Leeds office on 0113 244 4209.

To book a place to attend our new LGBTQ+ Mental Health group that is held on Thursday evenings, email Ash at a.dickson@mesmac.co.uk.

Please note the counselling service at Yorkshire MESMAC cannot respond to crisis emotional / mental health situations.

If you feel you are in need of crisis emotional / mental health support - contact your GP or telephone the Samaritans national support line on 116 123 - their telephone line is open 24/7.

We currently have a waiting list for counselling sessions; the wait time varies. Your referral will be acknowledged by email or text to confirm we have processed your referral. Once a place is available, you will be contacted via telephone to confirm your place and provide you with the counsellor's details. If you decided you no longer need our support, please do contact us on 01709 242202 and ask for your name to be removed from the waiting list. Many thanks.

MESMAC can offer six free online or phone counselling sessions delivered by counsellors with training and experience of how best to support LGBTQIA+ people. Our service is available to people based in or around Leeds and Bradford who meet any of the following criteria:

Any LGBTQIA+ people
Any men who are attracted to or have sex with men
Couples: both couples in which both members are LGBTQIA+ or where just one member is LGBTQIA+
People who are questioning their sexual orientation or gender identity

What is counselling?

A counsellor will not tell you what to do however they will provide you with the space to talk things through and find a way through your own problems.
A counsellor is someone who is a good listener.
A counsellor provides a confidential space.
A counsellor is someone you can talk to who is not involved in your life.

Situations where our counselling service might be useful:

While anyone who meets the above criteria can access our counselling, some situations in which our counselling may be useful include:

If you have been the victim of a hate crime or bullying because of your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to 'coming out' and your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to your HIV status
If you are not confident enough to negotiate the kind of sex or relationships you want

What will happen once you are referred for counselling?

The information you give us will be sent to the MESMAC Counselling Coordinator via email, who will then pass it on to the most appropriate member of our counselling team.
They will then contact the person being referred as soon as possible.
If our Counselling Coordinator needs any more information from you they may contact you directly.
No information that can identify the person being referred will be stored electronically once the referral is made.
MESMAC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator can be contacted directly in case of any queries on 07710 099 028 / a.dickson@mesmac.co.uk.

Arrange counselling for yourself

If you meet the above criteria, please fill in a self referral form

Refer Yourself

Arrange counselling for someone else

If they meet the above criteria, please fill in a referral form

Refer Someone Else

Interested in joining our pool of counsellors?

If you're a registered counsellor in private practice or self-employed, we'd love to hear from you! Please fill out an expression of interest

Seeking Expressions of Interest from Counsellors

We offer free and confidential counselling in Bradford.

Please note the counselling service at MESMAC cannot respond to crisis emotional / mental health situations.

If you feel you are in need of crisis emotional / mental health support - contact your GP or telephone the Samaritans national support line on 116 123 - their telephone line is open 24/7.

We currently have a waiting list for counselling sessions. Your referral will be acknowledged via text in the first instance and dealt with as soon as sessions become available. We will get back in touch to let you know when we can process your referral and who your counsellor will be but in the meantime please let us know by calling 0113 244 4209 if you have submitted a referral and then feel you no longer need our support. Many thanks.

MESMAC can offer free, short term local counselling in Bradford, Hull, Leeds and Rotherham for:

Gay, Bisexual and men who have sex with men.
Female partners of men who are attracted to men.
Couples: both gay male couples and male/female couples, where the male partner is attracted to men.
Young people (16-25 years) who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans or questioning their sexual orientation or gender.
People living with HIV and their partners.
Women who identify as Lesbian, Bisexual or who are questioning their sexual orientation.
Trans communities and people who are questioning their gender.

This counselling is free if you are living in these areas and on a low income.

We can offer counselling for individuals and couples.

What is counselling?

A counsellor will not tell you what to do however they will provide you with the space to talk things through and find a way through your own problems.
A counsellor is someone who is a good listener.
A counsellor provides a confidential space.
A counsellor is someone you can talk to who is not involved in your life.

Who is eligible for counselling?

If you have been the victim of a hate crime or bullying because of your sexuality.
If you are suffering because of your own or other people’s attitudes to your sexuality.
If you are suffering because of your own or other peoples' attitudes to your HIV status.
If you feel you are not confident enough to negotiate the kind of sex or relationships you want.
If you are having difficulties "coming out" to yourself or others.

What will happen once you are referred for counselling?

The information you give us will be sent to the Yorkshire MESMAC Counselling Coordinator via email, who will then pass it on to the most appropriate member of our counselling team.
They will then contact the person being referred as soon as possible.
If our Counselling Coordinator needs any more information from you they may contact you directly.
No information that can identify the person being referred will be stored electronically once the referral is made.
Yorkshire MESMAC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator can be contacted directly in case of any queries on 0113 244 4209.

Arrange counselling for yourself

If you meet the above criteria, please fill in a self referral form

Refer Yourself

Arrange counselling for someone else

If they meet the above criteria, please fill in a referral form

Refer Someone Else

Interested in joining our pool of counsellors?

If you're a registered counsellor in private practice or self-employed, we'd love to hear from you! Please fill out an expression of interest

Seeking Expressions of Interest from Counsellors

Please note the counselling service at MESMAC cannot respond to crisis emotional / mental health situations.

If you feel you are in need of crisis emotional / mental health support - contact your GP or telephone the Samaritans national support line on 116 123 - their telephone line is open 24/7.

We currently have a waiting list for counselling sessions; the wait time varies. Your referral will be acknowledged by email or text to confirm we have processed your referral.

Once a place is available, you will be contacted via telephone to confirm your place and provide you with the counsellor's details. If you decided you no longer need our support, please do contact us and ask for your name to be removed from the waiting list. Many thanks.

MESMAC can offer six free online or phone counselling sessions delivered by counsellors with training and experience of how best to support LGBTQ+ people. Our service is available to all LGBTQ+ people based in Hull.

What is counselling?

A counsellor will not tell you what to do. However, they will provide you with the space to talk things through and find a way through your own problems.
A counsellor provides a confidential space.
Counselling is a chance to find your way through challenges or difficulties with someone who is non-judgmental, empathetic and may offer suggestions or techniques.

Situations where our counselling service might be useful

While anyone who meets the above criteria can access our counselling, some situations in which our counselling may be useful include:

If you have been the victim of a hate crime or bullying because of your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to 'coming out' and your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to your HIV status
If you are not confident enough to negotiate the kind of sex or relationships you want

What will happen once you're referred for counselling?

The information you give us will be sent to the MESMAC Counselling Coordinator via email, who will then pass it on to the most appropriate member of our counselling team.
They will then contact the person being referred as soon as possible.
If our Counselling Coordinator needs any more information from you they may contact you directly.
No information that can identify the person being referred will be stored electronically once the referral is made.
MESMAC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Ash, can be contacted directly in case of any queries on 07710 099 028 / a.dickson@mesmac.co.uk.

Arrange counselling for yourself

If you meet the above criteria, please fill in a self referral form

Refer Yourself

Arrange counselling for someone else

If they meet the above criteria, please fill in a referral form

Refer Someone Else

Interested in joining our pool of counsellors?

If you're a registered counsellor in private practice or self-employed, we'd love to hear from you! Please fill out an expression of interest

Seeking Expressions of Interest from Counsellors

Please note the counselling service at MESMAC cannot respond to crisis emotional / mental health situations.

If you feel you are in need of crisis emotional / mental health support - contact your GP or telephone the Samaritans national support line on 116 123 - their telephone line is open 24/7.

What is counselling?

A counsellor will not tell you what to do. However, they will provide you with the space to talk things through and find a way through your own problems.
A counsellor provides a confidential space.
Counselling is a chance to find your way through challenges or difficulties with someone who is non-judgmental, empathetic and may offer suggestions or techniques.

Situations where counselling might be useful

While anyone who meets the above criteria can access our counselling, some situations in which our counselling may be useful include:

If you have been the victim of a hate crime or bullying because of your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to 'coming out' and your sexuality
If you are suffering because of your own or other people's attitudes to your HIV status
If you are not confident enough to negotiate the kind of sex or relationships you want

What will happen once you're reffered for counselling?

The information you give us will be sent to the MESMAC Counselling Coordinator via email, who will then pass it on to the most appropriate member of our counselling team.
They will then contact the person being referred as soon as possible.
If our Counselling Coordinator needs any more information from you they may contact you directly.
No information that can identify the person being referred will be stored electronically once the referral is made.
MESMAC’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator, Ash, can be contacted directly in case of any queries on 07710 099 028 / a.dickson@mesmac.co.uk.