Couples

All couples experience times when expert advice or a listening ear will help them find their way through a difficult situation. The following organisations offer a variety of support.

Relate offers counselling, sexual therapy and advice for individuals and couples. Details of your nearest Relate branch can be found by calling Directory Enquiries, in your Yellow Pages phone book in the Counselling and Advice section or in your local telephone directory under Relate. You can also get immediate advice and referrals to your local centre from the Relate helpline on 0845 130 40 10 (Mondays to Fridays 9.30am-4.30pm).

Couples living in Scotland can receive similar help from Couple Counselling Scotland. Call their helpline on 01382 640 340 (Thursdays 2pm-4pm). To find out about support in your area, phone Couple Counselling Scotland on 0131 558 9669.

Marriage Care provides a confidential information and listening service for people facing difficulties within their marriage or close personal relationships. Callers can phone on any issue of concern. Face-to-face relationship counselling is also available. Call the Marriage Care helpline on 0845 660 6000 (Mondays to Fridays 11am-3pm).

The British Association for Sexual and Relationship Therapy provides details of psychosexual clinics and qualified sex therapists. Send a stamped addressed envelope to PO Box 13686, London SW20 9ZH.

If you are interested in receiving counselling on any aspect of your life, you can ask your GP to refer you to a trained counsellor or counselling service. You can get a list of suitable qualified counsellors in your area by sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 1 Regent Place, Rugby CV21 2PJ.

National Family Mediation helps families going through separation or divorce by helping them to resolve issues such as the welfare of their children. Call 020 7383 5993 (Mondays to Fridays 10am-2pm).

When someone is in prison, waiting for a court case or for sentencing, the strain and worry for those close to them can be intolerable. The following two organisations offer support to the families and friends of offenders.

The Prisoners' Families and Friends Service provides information and support for the relatives or friends of people in prison on any matter resulting from the imprisonment. Call 0808 808 3444 (Mondays to Fridays 10am-5pm, Wednesdays up to 8pm).

The Partners of Prisoners and Families Support Group provides information, advice and support to the partners, families and friends of those in prison. Call 0161 277 9066 (Mondays to Fridays 9am-5pm).

There’s a wealth of information in the Channel 4 Health House at www.channel4.com/health and in the Magazine section of the Health House at www.channel4.com/health/microsites/H/health/magazine/sex/relationships_main.html. You can also ask confidential questions online in the Just Ask section.

This message has been prepared and is updated regularly by Programme Support at Channel 4.