Note this is not a crisis support service. If you feel that you, or someone you know is in danger see the crisis support options available below.

How The Service Works

Sometimes in life you just need to talk to someone to let go of whatever is bugging you! A safe space to VENT! Confiding to family and friends can come with fears of embarrassment, judgement and unwanted advice.

At The Good Listener we are skilled in being your empathic ear; however we are not licensed therapists or psychiatrists.  We do provide you with an ‘Authentic connection’, consisting of empathy and compassion.  The Good Listener will give you their full undivided attention, in a non-judgemental environment, free from professional advice and diagnosis.

We provide you with a safe and anonymous space, to cater to your needs, giving you the opportunity to simply vent out, Talk through your true feelings and emotions, share your events and experiences, your concerns. Most of all we give you the feeling of presence, a place to validate your true feelings and emotions. We as humans crave to be heard, and The Good Listener allows your voice to be truly heard and acknowledged, so you don’t feel alone.

The Science of Listening

It is common to assume that listening is synonymous with hearing. To some extent this is true, however listening is not the same as hearing. The process of hearing is multifaceted and intercorrelated with physiological and neurological processes which include the senses of seeing, touching and tasting. Infact, the McGurk effect emphasises that human perception is dominated by the visual component of listening. There is more to listening than what the ear hears; it is an incorporation of the different cognitive functions working together, utilising attention, comprehension, inferencing and memory.

It is often said ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’, and it is not surprising that research and science validate this. Psychological research on active listening has found that being listened to promotes the individual’s perception of their quality of life. Other studies have found that being heard promotes an increased level of emotional well-being. Neuroscience research has shown that the perception of being listened to triggers a chemical change in the brain that leads to feelings of reward. Other research has demonstrated that being listened to creates a connection that heals wounds. Feeling heard contributes to reduced loneliness and promotes feelings of autonomy.