School Counselling Service
School-based counselling is a professional activity, delivered by qualified practitioners in schools. Counsellors offer troubled and/or distressed children and young people an opportunity to explore and understand their difficulties within a relationship of agreed confidentiality.
Experiencing a mental health problem in childhood is one of the biggest barriers to achieving well-being and yet only one quarter of children affected are getting specialist help (Green et al, 2005). At Presdales we are very lucky to employ our own school counsellor who worked with us over three days a week. This counselling service provides a regular safe and supportive space for young people to express and explore their thoughts, feelings, behaviours, worries and difficulties with a counsellor who is non-judgmental, empathetic, and respectful. Our counsellor has vast experience of working with children and young people and is professionally trained and fully qualified. There is an appointment system and students can access our counsellor during the school day if they are referred to the service by their Head of Year. We are able to offer a series of eight one to one sessions, some group work sessions and a drop in service for students one lunch time a week. The counsellor treats all personal information in confidence. However, she will liaise with the Sara Miller Deputy Head in charge of Pastoral care on a regular basis and provide her with names of students being counselled, for safeguarding reasons. If a student is deemed ‘at risk’ for any reason, our counsellor will immediately pass on this information to the Deputy Head and Designated safeguarding lead to ensure that the appropriate support is provided for that child.Confidentiality
