hmp styal legal visits email

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Styal Prison and Young Offender Institution

Styal is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Wilmslow, Cheshire, for women aged 18 and over.

Applies to England and Wales

Help us to improve this page. Give us your feedback in this 2-minute survey .

Book and plan your visit to Styal

To visit someone in Styal you must:

• be on that person’s visitor list (only the prisoner can add you to or remove you from their visitor list)
• book your visit at least 48 hours in advance
• have the the required ID with you when you go

At least one visitor must be 18 or older at every visit.

There may be a limit to the number of visits a prisoner can have. You can check this with Styal.

Contact Styal if you have any questions about visiting.

Help with the cost of your visit

If you get certain benefits or have a health certificate, you might be able to get help with the costs of your visit , including:

• travel to Styal
• somewhere to stay overnight

How to book family and friends visits

You can book your visit online or by telephone.

Telephone booking line: 0300 060 6512 Find out about call charges

The booking line is open:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday: midday to 5pm
• Tuesday and Thursday: 9am to 5pm

Visiting times:

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 14 prisoners)
• Friday: no visits
• Saturday and Sunday: 9:30am to 11:30am (open house only) and 2pm to 4pm (maximum of 14 prisoners)

Visitors should arrive 15 minutes before your booked time slot.

How to book legal and professional visits

Legal visits can be booked by emailing: [email protected]

Legal Visits (Face to Face) are:

• Tuesday and Thursday: 9:30am to 10:30am and 10:45am to 11:45am
• Prison video Legal visits can also be booked using the above email address – these are available Monday to Friday between 8:30am to 5pm

Getting to Styal

Find Styal on a map

The closest railway stations are:

• Styal Station - a 10 minute walk to the prison
• Wilmslow Station - a 5 minute taxi ride to the prison

To plan your journey by public transport:

• use National Rail enquiries
• use Traveline for local bus times

There is a car park at the prison. Parking is limited and there are no designated spaces for Blue Badge holders.

Entering Styal

All visitors, aged 16 or older must prove their identity before entering the prison. Read the list of acceptable forms of ID when visiting a prison .

All visitors will need to be given a rub-down search, including children.

No cash is allowed inside the prison. You will need to leave any valuables in a locker before entering the visitor area.

You will be told the rules by an officer at the start of your visit. If you break the rules, your visit could be cancelled and you could be banned from visiting again.

Visiting facilities

There is a visitors centre run by Partners of Prisoners (POPS) .

There are no toilet facilities available to use in the visits hall.

Family visits

There are currently no family visits being run.

Keep in touch with someone at Styal

You may not be able to speak with someone at Styal during their first few days. This is because it can take up to 48 hours to approve who they can be in touch with.

One supervised phone call is allowed on arrival in the First Night Centre. If a prisoner has restrictions in place they will not be able to make a call.

Prisoners do not have phones in their cells so they will always need to call you rather than you call them.

If you need to contact someone in Styal urgently, phone the switchboard and ask to speak to the Duty Governor or Orderly Officer.

Phone calls

Prisoners can only phone you if you are named on their list of friends and family. This list is checked by security.

You can also exchange voicemails using the Prison Voicemail service .

Officers may listen to phone calls as a way of preventing crime and helping keep people safe.

You can send emails to someone in Styal using the Email a Prisoner service .

You might also be able to attach photos and receive replies from the prisoner, depending on the rules at Styal.

Secure video calls

To have a secure video call with someone in this prison you need to:

• Download the Prison Video app
• Create an account
• Register all visitors
• Add the prisoner to your contact list.

How to book a secure video call

Secure video calls at this prison can be requested by prisoners only.

You will receive a notification if a prisoner has requested a video call with you.

Read more about how it works

Include the person’s name and prison number on the envelope.

If you do not know their prison number, you can use their date of birth instead or you can find out their prison number .

All post apart from legal letters will be opened and checked by officers.

Send money and gifts

You can use the free and fast online service to send money to someone in prison .

You can no longer send money by bank transfer, cheque, postal order or send cash by post.

If you cannot use the online service, you may be able to apply for an exemption - for example if you:

• are unable to use a computer, a smart phone or the internet
• do not have a debit card

This will allow you to send money by post.

Gifts and parcels

Prisoners are given a list of approved items that can be sent to them as gifts. Contact Styal for more information on what’s allowed.

Make sure to include the person’s name and prison number on the parcel.

Friends and families of prisoners are permitted to send books directly to their loved ones, or can order books from approved retailers, which can source and send the books on to prisoners.   For the full list of approved retailers, you can read the HMPPS Incentives Policy, Annex F .

All parcels will be opened and checked by officers.

Life at Styal

Styal is committed to providing a safe and educational environment where prisoners can learn new skills and focus on their personal development.

Security and safeguarding

Every prisoner at Styal has a right to feel safe. The staff are responsible for their safeguarding and welfare at all times.

For further information about what to do when you are worried or concerned about someone in prison visit the Prisoners’ Families helpline website .

Styal also has a peer mentoring scheme. Trained prisoners give the other women advice and tell them about agencies that can help them. Some also organise book clubs to help improve reading skills.

Mentors work towards a level 2 qualification in mentoring.

Arrival and first night

When people first arrive they stay in the First Night Centre for up to 48 hours before moving to their accommodation.

They are interviewed by an officer and are introduced to living in custody. The officer will explain the prison rules and they will be offered a hot meal, shower and a phone call to their family or partner.

After that, they will see a nurse who can help with any healthcare needs.

They will be given toiletries and be able to buy a grocery pack or a vape pack. They can borrow money from the prison if they have no cash on them when they arrive.

New prisoners will also meet the duty chaplain, mental health nurse and domestic abuse support worker during their first 48 hours to help with any concerns they might have.

Each prisoner that arrives at Styal gets an induction that lasts about a week. They will meet professionals who will help them with:

• health and wellbeing, including mental and sexual health
• any substance misuse issues, including drugs and alcohol
• personal development in custody and on release, including skills, education and training
• other support (sometimes called ‘interventions’), such as managing difficult emotions

Everyone also finds out about the rules, fire safety, and how things like calls and visits work.

Accommodation

Around 480 prisoners live at Styal.

The accommodation is a mix of dormitories and individual cells.

Styal also has a Mother and Baby Unit for prisoners with babies up to 18 months. The unit is run by the Action for Children charity.

Faith services

The diverse chaplaincy team offers weekly services, personal development courses, bereavement support and a quiet space for personal prayer.

Education and work

The education at Styal is provided by Novus and includes:

• English and maths
• hairdressing and beauty
• functional skills
• IT and business admin
• painting and decorating
• horticulture

Prisoners in the Mother and Baby Unit can take part in programmes that support the development of their child. There’s also a crèche so mothers can attend other education classes.

The library, provided by Cheshire County Council, has several computers for learning (without internet access) as well as a range of books, CDs and DVDs.

Prisoners produce a quarterly magazine called ‘Innit’ which received a national award for the quality of journalism in 2006.

Temporary release

Prisoners at Styal can be considered for release on temporary licence. It depends on where they are in their sentence and a thorough risk assessment.

Women can be considered for childcare resettlement if they can show that they were the sole carer of their child before they came into custody and will be again on release. This also depends on a thorough risk assessment.

Support for family and friends

Find out about advice and helplines for family and friends .

Support at Styal

Styal works hard to help families keep in contact.

Family services at Styal are provided by PACT. .

Concerns, problems and complaints

In an emergency.

Call 01625 553000 if you think a prisoner is at immediate risk of harm. Ask for the Orderly Officer and explain that your concern is an emergency.

Problems and complaints

If you have any other problem contact Styal .

Inspection reports

HM Prison and Probation Service publishes action plans for Styal in response to independent inspections.

Contact Styal

Governor: Nicky Hargreaves

Telephone: 01625 553 000 Monday to Friday, 7am to 8pm Weekends and Bank Holidays, 7am to 5pm Fax: 01625 553 001 Find out about call charges

HMP/YOI Styal Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 4HR

Updates to this page

Opening hours updated for visits booking telephone line.

Updated visiting information

Updated visiting guidance based on 1 April COVID rule changes

Added link to new safer custody information under Security and safeguarding.

Updated visiting information: Visits suspended.

Updated visiting information: Testing for visitors aged 12 and over.

Added link to information about testing for physical contact at visits.

New visiting times and booking information added.

Prison moved into National Stage 3 framework and is now preparing to open visits for family, friends and significant others. We will update this page with specific visiting information as soon as possible.

Updated visiting information in line with new local restriction tiers.

Updated visiting information in line with new national restrictions in England.

Updated visiting information in line with coronavirus restrictions.

Updated: HMP Styal visiting times and visiting procedure changes during coronavirus.

Updated information to include confirmation of secure video calls being available at this prison.

Updated survey link

Prison visits update.

Added link to Styal action plan

First published.

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Visits and getting there, HMP Styal

Visits are held daily between 13:45-15:45. In addition to “normal” visits, the prison holds family visits on Saturday and Sunday mornings; these visits are by application only by the prisoner.

You can book visits online at www.gov.uk/prison-visits . All you need is the name and date of birth of the person you are visiting, their prisoner number and the visitors details. You can choose up to 3 possible dates and times. Prison booking staff will check what’s available and confirm your visit by email. If you’ve made an online visit booking request and haven’t received a confirmation email within 1-3 working days, email [email protected] or call 01625 553 195, lines open 9:00 & 13:00, Monday to Friday. You can also book visits direct by emailing or calling the number above.

There is a visitors centre,  click here  or call   01625 553071,  staffed by Contact Cheshire Support (with play area and refreshments). You should book in here for your visit, remember to bring photo ID and proof of address. There are lockers available at the centre to leave items such as mobile phones, cigarettes, food & drink etc during your visit. You will be searched by prison staff before being admitted to the visit hall.

Small change only is allowed into the prison to use the vending machines. You need to buy vouchers at the visitors center to get tea/coffee etc from the kiosk in the visit hall ( refunded at the end of the visit if not used)

The prison is located near Manchester Airport on the B5166 (Styal Road) between Wythenshawe and Wilmslow close to Styal County Park. The nearest station is Styal, click here  as trains are not frequent!  and its then a 10 mins walk to the prison. You can take a train to Wilmslow then a taxi to the prison, (a local taxi firm # 01625 527 963).

The prison is located approximately 13 miles south of Manchester about 2 miles from the airport. If travelling by road, follow the signs for Manchester Airport, leaving the M56 at junction 5. At the airport follow the signs for Wilmslow (end of runway will be on your right). Continue to the T-junction and then turn right into Styal Road. The prison is approximately one and a half miles on your left. Styal Country Park and Quarry Bank Mill are well signposted with the National Trust brown motif. This property is approximately 500 yards before the prison on the right hand side.

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Styal Prison

An in-depth look at Styal Prison, its history, facilities, and visiting information for families and friends of inmates.

Styal Prison, officially known as HMP Styal, is a women’s prison located in Cheshire, UK. Originally a former orphanage, Styal Prison now serves as a key facility within the UK prison system, accommodating a diverse range of female offenders. This guide provides comprehensive information on the prison’s history, facilities, and essential visiting guidelines.

Styal Prison Telephone, Address and Contact information

Styal Prison Contact Information

Telephone: +44 1625 553000 Address: HMP Styal, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4HR, United Kingdom Parking: Visitor parking is available on-site. It’s recommended to arrive early to secure a parking spot. Email: [email protected]

How to Get to Styal Prison

Styal Prison is accessible by car and public transport. The nearest train station is Wilmslow, which is a short taxi ride away from the prison. Bus services also operate from nearby towns and cities, providing convenient access to the facility.

Booking a Visit to Styal Prison and Visiting Styal Prison

Visiting Styal Prison

Booking a Visit

To visit an inmate at Styal Prison, you must book your visit in advance. Visits can be arranged by contacting the prison directly via phone or through the online booking system. Ensure you have the inmate’s details, including their full name and prisoner number, when making a booking.

Visiting Hours

Styal Prison’s visiting hours are typically as follows:

• Weekdays: 14:00 – 16:00
• Weekends: 10:00 – 12:00 and 14:00 – 16:00

These hours are subject to change, so it’s advisable to confirm the schedule when booking your visit.

Arrival and Security Checks

Visitors are advised to arrive at least 30 minutes before the scheduled visit to allow time for security checks. You must bring a valid photo ID and the booking confirmation. Personal belongings are generally not allowed into the visiting area, and lockers are available to store your items.

What to Expect During Your Visit

During your visit, you will be escorted to the visiting area where you can meet the inmate. The visiting environment is designed to be family-friendly, and children are allowed, provided they are accompanied by an adult. Interaction with the inmate is monitored to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved.

Styal Prison Overview

Styal Prison’s history dates back to its establishment in 1962, initially serving as a training prison for women. The site, a former orphanage, was converted into a correctional facility to address the rising demand for female prison spaces. Over the decades, Styal Prison has undergone significant changes, evolving to meet modern correctional standards while maintaining its commitment to rehabilitation and support for female inmates.

Facilities at Styal Prison

Styal Prison boasts a variety of facilities designed to support the rehabilitation and well-being of its inmates. These facilities include:

• Educational and Vocational Training: Styal Prison provides educational programs and vocational training to equip inmates with skills for employment post-release.
• Healthcare Services: Comprehensive healthcare services, including mental health support, are available to all inmates.
• Rehabilitation Programs: Various rehabilitation programs, such as substance abuse treatment and counselling services, are in place to aid in the personal development of inmates.
• Recreational Facilities: Inmates have access to recreational facilities, including a gym and sports areas, to promote physical health and well-being.

Styal Prison plays a vital role in the UK’s prison system, providing essential services and support to female inmates. By understanding the prison’s history, facilities, and visiting procedures, family and friends can maintain vital connections with their loved ones during their incarceration. For further reading on related topics, visit our guide on how to prepare for a prison visit .

For more detailed information on UK prisons, you can also check out this comprehensive article on the UK prison system .

Can I send money to an inmate at Styal Prison? Yes, money can be sent to inmates via the online system or postal orders. Contact the prison for specific details.

Are there special visit arrangements for children? Yes, Styal Prison has family-friendly visiting areas, and special arrangements can be made for children visiting their mothers.

What items can I bring to a visit? Generally, only essential items such as ID are allowed. All other belongings must be stored in provided lockers.

How can I find out more about an inmate’s status? You can contact the prison directly for information about an inmate’s status and well-being.

What support services are available for inmates? Styal Prison offers a range of support services, including educational programs, healthcare, and rehabilitation services to aid in inmates’ reintegration into society.

You can visit our other prisons such as Stoke Heath Prison .

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• 13th December 2014
• Female Closed Training , North West , Prison Visit

Prison information

Address:  HMP STYAL, Styal Road, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 4HR

Switchboard: 0300 060 6512 Managed by: HMPPS Region: Cheshire Category: Male & YOIs Link to:  https://www.gov.uk/guidance/styal-prison

Description

Styal is a prison and young offender institution (YOI) in Wilmslow, Cheshire, for women aged 18 and over.

Visit Booking: On-line

Use this online service to book a social visit to a prisoner in England or Wales you need the:

• prisoner number
• prisoner’s date of birth
• dates of birth for all visitors coming with you

The prisoner must add you to their visitor list before you can book a visit.

You’ll get an email confirming your visit. It takes 1 to 3 days.

ID: Every visit

Acceptable forms of ID

Search reports

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Prison Inspectorates Reports

Probation Service Reports

Prisons and Probations Ombudsman

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If you have any information that you would like to be included or see anything that needs updating, contact Gary Bultitude at  [email protected]

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HMP HUMBER (WOLDS)

5 thoughts on “ hmp styal ”.

Hi.do u need to book a visit just to drop a prisoner some clothes off

Can i just turn up tomorrow and drop some clothes ECT for my partner? Without booking a visit..

I’ve booked a visit for 14/2/2016 and I’m not sure if it’s been accepted . Could you please send me a quick email to comfort please . Been ringing for two days and no ones picking phone up

What is the point of using acronyms such as VO and PVO on an ‘information’ page assuming the general population knows what they stand for?

Great info but nothing at all to tell you how to send postal orders in to prisoners, ie who is it made payable to and what other information is needed on the postal order ( name and number)

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Styal Prison Information

• Accommodation: The prison provides multiple residential units with individual cells or shared accommodation for inmates. The cells are designed to meet the strict security requirements of a closed prison and are equipped with basic amenities.
• Education and Vocational Training: Styal Prison places a strong emphasis on education and vocational training. Inmates have access to a range of educational programs, including basic literacy and numeracy, as well as accredited courses. Vocational training opportunities are also available to develop employable skills and enhance prospects for successful reintegration into society.
• Work Opportunities: Inmates at Styal Prison may have access to work activities within the prison, such as maintenance, cleaning, kitchen, and other designated roles. These work activities aim to develop skills, promote discipline, and instill a sense of responsibility.
• Healthcare: Styal Prison has an on-site healthcare facility staffed with medical professionals who provide primary healthcare services to prisoners. Mental health support, substance abuse programs, and specialized medical care are also available.
• Family Contact: The prison recognizes the importance of maintaining family relationships and facilitates visits and contact with family members, subject to specific guidelines and regulations.
• Resettlement Support: Styal Prison offers pre-release planning and support to help inmates prepare for their eventual release. This may include assistance with accommodation, employment, and access to community-based support services.

Contact Information

Booking a visit to styal prison.

Unlimited Prison Phone Calls Package

• Valid Passport
• Valid Photographic
• Driving Licence (full or provisional)
• Citizen Card
• Senior Citizens Bus Pass Travel Card (issued by Scottish Government)
• Utility bill
• Council tax bill
• Benefit book
• Bank statement
• other letter from official source

Through the gate Therapy Today, February 2017: Volume 28, Issue 1

Catherine Jackson visits HMP Styal, where a pioneering counselling service has developed new ways of working with offenders on short-term sentences.

'Hope is something you can’t have without putting in the hours for it. I got out in May and relapsed and came back in. In the past four months with Room to Talk, I have made changes that I feel I can sustain when I get out again. It’s made me focus 110 per cent on what I want, what I need and how to get it – and I have got that from these wise women in here. I have grown more in the past four months than I ever did before.’

This is Alex, one of the 472 women offenders currently serving their sentence in HMP Styal, Cheshire, one of the 12 women’s prisons in England. She is at high risk of becoming a ‘revolving-door offender’. Half of women offenders are reconvicted within a year of their release, and the proportion goes up with the number of times they return to prison. We used to talk about ‘revolving-door psychiatric patients’; with these statistics, and others telling us that nearly half (46%) of women offenders have suffered domestic violence, 53 per cent have experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse in childhood, and 56 per cent witnessed violence in Through the gate the home in childhood, 1 the distinction between the two populations is becoming increasingly blurred.

Yet, other than at Styal, there is no organised, established counselling provision in England’s female prison estate.

Alex is one of the lucky ones, in that she has had access to Room to Talk, a voluntary-sector counselling service set up six years ago in Styal by two women, Michelle (‘Shelly’) Cardona and Eileen Whittaker. They met when they were doing their counselling training and found they shared a sense of dismay at the absence of access to counselling among women prisoners. Styal’s then governor, John Hewitson, welcomed them with open arms, but no funding. They launched the service with just three counsellors, working from the dining room in one of the Victorian villas that accommodate most of the prisoners at Styal, and now have a team of 25 – some volunteers and some on placement. The service is open three days a week, offering 45–50 counselling sessions to the prisoners and prison staff from its own small, but lovingly decorated (by clients), hut.

‘Women bring everything,’ says Eileen. ‘Most have underlying trauma, and histories of child sexual abuse and rape, torture or trafficking. A lot are living with quite difficult existing disorders and depression. Bereavement, miscarriage, addictions – it’s all here.’

Giving time

Room to Talk has received no external funding, other than a £4,000 grant from Lloyds Bank to set up a website. Both Shelly and Eileen have counselling jobs that subsidise the three days a week they devote to Room to Talk. But they have received the full backing of the prison and the prison governor, Mahala McGuffie. ‘We are massively grateful for the support Mahala has given Room to Talk, which has meant we can make a difference to women’s lives here,’ says Eileen.

Purists may say it’s not possible, and it’s potentially even harmful, to try to offer talking therapy in such an environment, where clients face numerous obstacles, practical and emotional, to engaging with therapy. Women may be moved without notice to another prison, or be required to attend a course during their therapy hour; most have had a lifetime of abuse and exploitation, and may find it hard to trust the service. They may be in prison for such a short sentence that they can’t benefit from the counselling.

Shelly has no time for such naysayers: ‘Prison is nothing like the community,’ she says. ‘I say to them: “Come here and see how much difference you can make.” To me, it’s what person-centred counselling is all about – giving time to women. No one has ever done that for these women before. Even holding them for one session can make such a difference, when they’ve had bad news from home, for example, and they can’t fix it because they’re in here and they feel helpless and hopeless. Purists may doubt that one hour of your time can help, but we disagree.’

Anastasia Selby, Head of Reducing Reoffending at Styal, is unequivocal about the benefits that Room to Talk brings to the prison, the women and the staff. ‘So many of the women have underlying issues from their past, and that is where Room to Talk comes in. It’s confidential, it’s individual, it’s outside the prison system, and it’s there for the women when the time is right for them, and I think that is of enormous benefit,’ she says.

‘Almost every other intervention here is compulsory; it’s timetabled, and it isn’t confidential. There is very little here that they can choose for themselves. With Room to Talk, it’s their decision to attend. A lot of the women who have gone through counselling with Room to Talk have said how much it has helped move them on in life in terms of their attitude and behaviour in here.’

Counselling is ‘part of the rehabilitative culture that enables change to take place’, Anastasia says, and Room to Talk is seen as very much part of the support and care that the prison provides, alongside the mental health and substance-abuse service, and the education and other programmes aimed at reducing reoffending. But it is not something the prison itself can fund, because there is no evidence that it directly contributes to reducing reoffending. And it works well precisely because there is that clear separation between it and the statutory prison service, Anastasia believes.

FIRST programme

As is common throughout the women’s prison service, many of the women in Styal are serving very short sentences – around a quarter are there for just 14 days, and the average sentence is just 10 weeks. For these women, who are also at the highest risk of becoming repeat offenders, there has been little that Room to Talk can offer. However, now, thanks to a £200,000, three-year grant from the Big Lottery, Shelly and Eileen have been able to launch the FIRST programme.

FIRST (the Foundation for Inspired Rehabilitation with Skills and Tools) is an intensive groupwork programme that runs over three to four weeks, two days a week, and is designed specifically to address the lack of self-esteem and selfworth that is endemic in the women’s prison population. Shelly and Eileen believe that, if the women value themselves more, they will make different, better choices when they are released back into the community, and make more use of the support services that are out there for them.

‘Women serving shortterm sentences are often too chaotic to engage with counselling, or not here long enough to feel safe to open up in counselling, so we are trying to give them something they can engage with,’ says Shelly. ‘We don’t tell them not to reoffend. There’s enough people telling them about the mistakes they’ve made in their lives. We are trying to help them value themselves. Because, if they don’t feel that, where is the drive and inspiration to change?’

The groups are for a maximum of 12 women, and are facilitated by two counsellors, supported by peer mentors who have already completed the programme. It is available to all women who come into the prison who have at least six to eight weeks of their sentence to serve, unless they have evident psychosis or need first to detox. The programme comprises eight sessions (see box overleaf) and mainly uses creative arts techniques to help women open up about their emotional health needs.

For example, the women are all given an empty rag doll – just a cotton shape – and throughout the week they gradually fill her out in their image: hair, clothes, identifying marks (scars from self-harm, or tattoos, for example). When the doll is finished, they can give it to anyone they want. Some give their doll to their children, so they have something of their mother at home while she is still in prison. Breakdown of family relationships and loss of contact with their children are major issues for many women in prison. ‘Something so small can be so powerful,’ Shelly says.

Guilt and shame

Another very powerful exercise is to write a letter to a loved one, telling them how they want to be remembered. In another session, each woman is given a paper flower to pass around the group, and everyone writes something positive about her on each petal. ‘They feel such guilt and shame about being in prison. They can’t see the positives about themselves. It’s much easier to hear the bad things than accept compliments and see the good,’ says Shelly.

The FIRST programme also offers a ‘through the gate’ follow-up service; women can come for counselling with Room to Talk in one of the houses outside the security fence for up to three months post-release, and Room to Talk ensures they are linked in with their local women’s centre, where they can get further help and support.

Thanks to the Big Lottery, the FIRST programme is being evaluated to measure changes in the women’s mental health and mood. Reoffending rates are also being tracked, to assess its impact.

‘It softens you’

For Alex, taking part in the FIRST programme provided a space where she learned to trust other people enough to open up: ‘Everyone is there, on the floor, making things, and people can explore what is going on with themselves, and it’s so relaxed that they’re more likely to share and open up more with the counsellors. If you are one of those people who feel you don’t fit in, you lose that – it softens you.’

Catherine Jackson is editor of Therapy Today

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1. See www.womensbreakout.org.uk/about-us/key-facts