Counselling in School
Counselling is the opportunity to talk about things that are of concern, to a young person, in confidence, with a qualified counsellor. What is spoken about will depend on the individual, but common themes are
· stress,
· relationships
· change
· loss
· distressing, traumatic events.
Counsellors are trained to listen without judging and to help people sort out their thoughts and feelings about whatever is concerning them.
Why do you offer this support here?
In school, young people are in a place that is familiar, safe and secure. If children and young people are able to receive emotional support from a qualified professional they will have greater opportunity to fulfil their potential.
How long will counselling last?
Counselling is for 6-8 sessions. It is reviewed regularly between counsellor and child or young person and can be extended if there is great need. It will end when the young person no longer attends Derby Moor as the service is only funded for students here.
How are referrals made to the Counselling Service?
Referrals may be made through the Year Manager. The request may come from you, or your child who can self-refer. If a student asks for counselling and is under 16 we will ask you for permission for a referral. If a student is is over 16, students have the right under law to ask for counselling without a parent knowing. However, we would always work to gain a young person’s consent to contact you so that you are aware that counselling is taking place.
Where & when does it take place?
We have a small, private room in school. Sessions last up to 1 hour and appointment times can be varied so that time is not lost from any one subject.
Is it confidential?
Information discussed in the counselling session is treated confidentially. Counselling is a time when it’s O.K. to talk about concerns without fear of them being discussed elsewhere. This includes not discussing the work with parents, unless the child or young person requests or gives consent for this. This can be hard for parents to accept at times, but ensuring the confidentiality of the work is crucial for establishing trust so that the children and young people feel confident to speak openly and freely about what is concerning them.
However, if a pupil appears to be at risk of significant harm it may be appropriate to seek help from other agencies to keep them safe. The counsellor would aim to discuss this first with the pupil concerned.
All counsellors receive supervision of their work with young people, to ensure the quality of their practice and this is confidential.
Can I support the Counselling work?
Yes, and we welcome this. Our experience shows that the most helpful thing a parent can do is to show an acceptance of counselling as a normal and useful activity, and to show an interest if their son/daughter wishes to talk about it, but not to press them if they don’t. We acknowledge that this isn’t an easy task, and it is quite natural for parents to feel anxious about what may be being said in the sessions.
It is always our hope that talking with a counsellor will lead to greater openness with parents and families, you will need to allow a little time for this to happen.
If my child wants to see a Counsellor does that mean I am failing as a parent?
Absolutely not! We all experience occasions when it feels hard to speak to those closest to us about things which are bothering us. Often this can be because we don’t want to worry those we love best, or because we want help thinking things through with someone else outside of the family. The Counsellor will not be judging you or your child, but looking to help them find their way through whatever is troubling them
Data Protection Procedures and Evaluation
All information about counselling work undertaken by our staff is kept securely by the School Counsellor in line with current data protection regulations. After the counselling has finished your child will be given an evaluation form . This lets us know how well we are helping the children and young people that we see. If there is any cause for complaint, you or your child is welcome to contact the Counsellor or Year Manager who will aim to resolve any issues of concern. Complaints that are not resolved in this way follow the school ’s complaints procedure.