Explaining Counselling

What is counselling?

Counselling is time which is set aside for you. You can use this time to talk in private to a trained professional about your worries, concerns, problems or difficulties.

Counselling can help you to talk about the problems or difficulties you are facing in your life and explore the way you are feeling. These difficulties may include; stress and anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem and lack of confidence, eating disorders, anger, bullying, domestic violence, issues with drugs and alcohol, difficulties with relationships and many more.

What does a counsellor do?

A counsellor will listen to what you have to say without judging you. A counsellor will not be angry, upset, hurt or surprised by what you have to tell them.

Lynsey is FBEC's School counsellor and she will listen to you without judgement or criticism. She will offer you a safe, supportive place to talk about your feelings. She will take you seriously and she will not tell you what to do but instead will work with you to help you find your own answers.

Is counselling right for me?

Only you will know if counselling is right for you. You can speak with Lynsey in a drop-in session at break time when she can give you more information about counselling so that you can decide if it is for you. Counselling is your choice.

How does counselling help?

Counselling helps you to sort out or cope with feelings, emotions, thoughts and behaviour.

Counselling helps you to look at the problem and explore new ways to cope/deal with it

Is Counselling Confidential? Will anybody else know about my counselling?

What you say in counselling is private/confidential unless there are concerns that you or somebody else are at risk of significant harm. If there are concerns about somebodies safety, staff have a duty of care to share information. Confidentiality will be discussed in your first session.

How long does Counselling last?

Some people will have one or two sessions and others will have more. Lynsey will usually check with you every few sessions to see how you feel you are progressing and to make sure that you are happy to continue.

How do I get an appointment?

Speak to a trusted member of staff who can fill out a referral form on your behalf.

Fill out a self referral form and pop it under the counselling office door, attend dropin during break, lunch or after school.

Parents can phone the school and ask to speak with me about a referral