Local therapists offering specialist mental health support to Wrexham employees

A Wrexham-based counselling service has been congratulated by local politicians after securing a contract to provide therapy to people in the workplace free of charge.

Local Senedd Members Lesley Griffiths and Ken Skates have praised Phoenix Counselling Group after it was revealed it will be delivering the Welsh Government’s In-Work Support Service throughout the Wrexham area.

Phoenix Counselling Group was founded by RAF veteran, Chris Nelson and ex-professional rugby player, Rhys Williams.

Chris and Rhys both recognised counselling changed their lives for the better.

After becoming professionally trained therapists, they created Phoenix Counselling Group, with the overriding aim to help as many people as possible.

Phoenix has been set up as a social enterprise in order to help make counselling more accessible to those who struggle to access is privately.

By working closely with businesses, they hope to provide mental health support to employees that need it.

Phoenix Counselling Group have a team of professional counsellors ready to deliver wellbeing support to people in Wrexham thanks to a new Welsh Government initiative launched last month.

The In-Work Support Service provides free access to therapeutic support for employees of small and medium-sized businesses, as well as those who are self-employed.

Support is available for people who are absent or at risk of becoming absent from work with mental or physical ill-health, and it is hoped this support will help them remain in or return to work.

Under the scheme, people with a mental health or musculoskeletal problem will have rapid access to tailored occupational therapy, physiotherapy and psychological therapy services.

People can contact the service and speak directly to a specialist adviser. A GP or employer (or any other interested party) may also signpost an employee towards the service.

Wrexham MS Lesley Griffiths and Clwyd South MS Ken Skates met with Phoenix Counselling Group at the end of last year.

Ms Griffiths said: “More and more people are recognising the importance of our mental health and Chris and Rhys’ vision to make mental health support more accessible for everyone is to be applauded.

“The Welsh Government’s In-Work Support Service compliments their ideals perfectly, offering free support and training directly to businesses in the private and third sector, who often lack access to occupational health services.

“The work undertaken by Phoenix Counselling Group will provide valuable support to people in Wrexham and help create healthier work environments.”

Ken Skates MS, who chairs the Senedd’s cross-party group on mental health, said added: “Mental health is a subject I’m passionate about, and it was a pleasure to meet with Chris and Rhys last year and hear about their fantastic project.

“I’m delighted for them that they’ve been awarded this contract and will be able to offer accessible in-work support for local people. It’s a service which I’m sure will prove invaluable for local companies and their staff, and an initiative I’d love to see rolled out in more and more workplaces throughout Wales.”

The Welsh Government has invested £8m to ensure this service is available throughout Wales and Phoenix Counselling will be providing the support in the Wrexham area.

The new scheme builds on a previous European-funded service which provided support in parts of North Wales and Swansea Bay until December 2022.