Explaining Counselling - Parents

Information for Parents

The counsellors role in school

The counselling service in FBEC exists to support students who are experiencing difficulties emotionally, socially or behaviorally. Students are encouraged to discuss what is important to them and together with the counsellor explore possible solutions to problems. Therapeutic work can be offered to individuals or groups who are referred. The school counsellor is responsible for ensuring the psychological growth of all students and works hand in hand with other professionals both in and outside of school to achieve the best outcome for students.

What is counselling?

Counselling is a support service for students who are facing difficulties in their lives which are impacting on their wellbeing and/or achievement. Counselling provides students with the opportunity to express their difficulties and explore their feelings in a safe and confidential environment. The counsellor will also help students find ways to cope with difficulties and achieve their full potential.

Who is the school counsellor?

Lynsey Todd is the school counsellor, she is a qualified professional who is trained to work with Children and Young People.

Lynsey will listen to them and help them to resolve their difficulties.

The school counsellor is part of the school community, helping to support students, teaching staff and parents.

Contact details

Tel:- 01740 651554

Email:- lto@fbec.uk

Reasons why a student may attend counselling

There are many reasons why a student may access counselling. These are just a few examples:

Feelings of underachievement in school, exam worries/concerns
Bereavement
Anxiety, worry, stress
Eating disorders
Bullying
Low self-esteem and confidence
Self harm
Social isolation
Transitions; difficulties in moving to secondary school, transition from adolescence to adulthood.
Relationships
Family difficulties e.g. conflict, bereavement, parental separation/divorce
Help in changing behaviour (anger management)

...and many more

How does school counselling work?

The school counsellor will work within your child’s school on a set day(s) each week. The Counsellor will always try to alternate appointment times to ensure minimal disruption to learning. Counselling is reviewed regularly with the young person and will continue if there is a therapeutic need and the young person wishes to attend.

A drop in service is available to students to get advice and information and/or make a self referral.

Confidentiality

A high level of confidentiality is available to all students. Students over the age of 13 years who are considered capable of understanding the counselling process can access the service without parental consent. Student’s are however encouraged to inform their parents/carers that they are accessing the service.

Counselling must be confidential and voluntary in order to be effective. It must be their choice to access the service.

Due to the confidential nature of counselling, the content of the sessions cannot be passed back to staff or parents unless consent is given by the student.

The only exception to this, is if it is believed that the student or any other person maybe at risk of harm.

Parents and key staff in school will be immediately informed of the concern.

Students who will benefit most from counselling

Students who benefit from counselling usually have some understanding of the problem, its impact on their life and/or the lives of others. They display a willingness to change. They are willing to trust the counsellor and are able to discuss their thoughts and feelings.

Importantly it is helpful if students understand it is their responsibility to bring about change.

Students not suitable

Students who may not be suitable for counselling include students who are currently seeing numerous sources of support, students who want someone else to rid them of their problems, students who have no desire to change, have no clear reason for the difficulty and/or have a psychiatric history.

Useful information

A counsellor must complete relevant training to practice safely and effectively. The minimum qualification to practice is a Diploma. Many counsellors have additional qualifications such as Bachelor’s Degrees. counsellors are also required to engage in regular learning and personal development. Counsellors train in many different branches of therapy and it is important to choose a therapy which is right for you and your child.

Lynsey, FBEC's councellor is trained as a person centred counsellor which is a branch of therapy labelled as Humanistic and is a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. Lynsey has worked in secondary schools since 2001 previously working with students with Asperger’s Syndrome in a specialist college.

Perhaps the stereotypical image of a counsellor is someone who sits and listens for a living, although this is an important aspect of the counselling process, therapy involves much more. It involves different theoretical approaches strategies and techniques. Person centred counsellors believe students are able to make choices and decisions which promote their own growth. A counsellors job is to encourage self direction, using there psychological background which influences the way students are supported, using solution focussed techniques along with cognitive behavioural methods.

The time spent with students varies depending on the presenting issue, ultimately regardless of time spent with students it is a counsellors responsibility to ensure any students who attends counselling within school has support tailored to their needs. This means identifying gaps in provision and signposting accordingly.

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