In March, 2015, the DfE published clear guidance to UK schools on the urgent need for engaging professional school-based counselling. Since this is the foundation of what we passionately believe in and currently do, it is very encouraging to hear it supported by Whitehall at last! To find out what they have to say, see the paper below:
dfe_guidance_on_counselling_in_schools_-_march_2015.pdf
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  What we do...

   How we do it...

  • Rigorous and thorough identification of key needs in first session(s) and through ongoing assessment. In primary school, this also involves meeting with parent(s) or carers and staff
  • Providing a “safe space” for individual therapeutic work - to explore difficulty and build long-term emotional resources and resilience
  • Working together with school and home, proactively and sensitively sharing whatever will best support the child or young person
  • Tailoring training days and workshops to individual school requirements and needs

   Why we do it...

  • At least 1 in 5 children today suffer sexual or physical abuse or severe physical or emotional neglect (NSPCC Report 2013). Depleted statutory services are unable to meet the needs of very many of these children. This is increasingly highlighted by Media  reports of extreme self-harm, substance misuse and suicide. More skilled support is needed! 
  • Current Neuroscientific evidence has proven beyond question that emotional distress precludes learning and healthy development.
  • Effective early intervention can change the brain, people's perceptions, resources and therefore lives, forever. 
  • Sharing therapeutic knowledge and strategies empowers young people and those who teach and care for them. 
  • Spiralling absence, illness and retention levels are testament to the high levels of stress in schools. Staff matter too! Healthy, happy staff result in healthy, happy young people achieving their potential.
   Why choose us?
       As an established school-based counselling and well-being service we offer:
  • Counsellors who are recruited both for their specialised training and experience in engaging and working successfully with young people and for their personal qualities, including integrity, warmth and the capacity to also build trust and strong relationships with school staff and parents.  
  • A robust model of school-based counselling which includes all the supporting referral documentation, paperwork, information about counselling and safeguarding knowledge to inspire confidence and trust in staff, students and parents.
  • Assessment using nationally used tools e.g. Young Person YP-CORE, to identify key individual needs and work efficiently towards positive change, while remaining flexible about the number of sessions needed for each person.  
  • On-going service evaluation processes which are both quantitative and qualitative and shared with school - to continue developing and maintaining the highest standards.
  • Wider pro-active well-being support through shared online and other resources, the option of staff and parent workshops, pastoral staff supervision and student well-being programmes, which help to increase general knowledge and skills to support well-being and build emotional resilience.
  • A Head of Care who has worked in schools for 29 years and has a realistic understanding of school systems and empathy for the huge pressures on staff and students regarding time, communication and outcomes.

Feedback from young people and parents...


Primary school parent/guardian comments:  

   "I'm OK, YOU' re OK offers a second to none service to anyone who touches it." (Primary parent)

  "I think this service is so valuable for a lot of children, a lot of whom can be misunderstood through no fault of their own. Instead of being classed as naughty or having ADHD the children are able to develop and receive the knowledge and care they need to use in everyday situations."  (Parent of Yr 6 boy)

  "My daughter has come on in leaps and bounds! She is more open with me now and I have learnt to talk to her. Very happy! (Parent of Year 4 girl)  

  “The counselling increased his confidence as he settled easily into Year 3. He is now more confident to speak out in class… Was just what we all needed through the last very difficult year.” (Parent of Year 3 boy)   

   "He is much more confident now, and many of the little issues that go on in school just stay as little issues rather than being blown out of proportion. He is so much happier now, and able to deal with life's little incidents with a positive attitude." (Parent of Year 6 boy)   

Some of the counselling feedback from Young People:     

" I think we need counsellors in more schools!" (Year 10 F student)

"Just being able to talk over things and let go of some bottled up emotions was enough." (Year 11 M student)

"I want to thank you for everything you have done for me. I don't think I could of managed." (Year 11 F student)

"One-to-one was most helpful but in the small group I enjoyed listening to how others felt." (Year 11 F student)

Children's comments on the TA & Mindful Awareness Project:

“Meditating! I just actually really concentrate on sensations in my body and I think it actually helps my work and sport.”
(Yr 6 boy)

“I enjoyed the warm fuzzies and cold pricklies because it makes you think and be aware about what you say to people.” (Yr 6 girl) 
“I enjoyed the meditation most… because it was soothing and calming.” (Yr 6 boy) 

“I would recommend this project to all the school!” (Yr 6 girl) 
 
See this video of Dan Siegel, neurobiologist and author, on why we need "mindsight" for wellbeing: