The Ambivalence programme is based on long-term support provided by a team of psychologists and is grounded in the Housing First values. These core values shape the key area of the approach, including housing, recovery, support decision-making, relationships and community. Its continuation and further development are supported through a three-year collaboration within the SOLACE project.
In the Ambivalence programme, we have launched individual psychoeducational consultations. Their aim is to help Participants better understand their own mental states, learn ways to cope with difficulties, and above all, give them an opportunity to explore how they feel in regular contact with a specialist in a setting similar to psychotherapy.
For some Participants, this is their first experience of this kind of support. Meetings take place one-to-one, once a week, in an office, and at a set time. This structure may seem straightforward, but for people who have lived in unstable conditions for a long time, regularity, planning, and punctuality can present a real challenge.
How participants were introduced to the service
An important part of the process was giving participants both choice and responsibility from the very beginning. Participants received brief information from the support worker about two psychologists – a woman and a man – with their contact details. Then they decided whether they wanted to take part in the process and which specialist they preferred to contact. Participants also remained responsible for managing their appointments, including confirming, cancelling or rescheduling them when necessary. We see this as an important element of building independence and becoming more familiar with how psychological support works outside the day-to-day support environment.
What can psychoeducation offer?
- awareness of oneself and one’s reactions
- understanding of emotions and mental states
- learning ways of coping with difficulties
- experience of regular, one-to-one contact with a specialist
- preparation for potential further psychological support or psychotherapy
What have we observed?
In the first months, we noticed several recurring challenges and changes:
- some Participants found it difficult to attend meetings regularly,
- punctuality and planning ahead were not always easy,
- difficulty adapting in the structured nature of the relationship with a specialist,
- over time, some Participants became more comfortable with this form of support.
We see these observations as an important part of the process. Engaging in psychological support requires not only a willingness to talk about oneself, but also a gradual familiarisation with the structure and boundaries of a relationship with a specialist, as well as taking responsibility for attending scheduled meetings.
We do not assume that everyone needs to be ready for this experience at the same time. Withdrawal, irregular attendance or a lack of interest in consultations do not mean failure. A person may simply not be ready for this type of work yet, or may not feel that they need it at this stage. What matters is that they have the opportunity to choose, try this form of support and decide for themselves.
We take a long-term view of this work. Even a few sessions can help someone understand what meeting with a psychologist is like and what they can expect from this type of contact. Support for people experiencing homelessness often responds to a wide range of immediate needs and may rely on the close availability of a support team. Psychological support works differently: it takes place within a defined framework, at a specific time, and requires greater independence on the part of the person receiving support.
For those who are able to engage in regular and more in-depth work, we see this as another step towards recovery, greater independence and accessing support beyond the homelessness support system. Psychoeducation can therefore serve as a safe bridge between these two ways of accessing help.
From the perspective of support work, this is particularly important to us. The consultations are provided by psychologists who are currently undergoing psychotherapy training. Thanks to the support of the Polish Multiple Sclerosis Society, the meetings can take place in person, in consultation rooms made available by the Society.