What’s counselling about?

Sometimes we all have problems that are worrying. Think of a confusing jigsaw when all the pieces are difficult to match together. Talking about a problem in counselling is like sorting out all the pieces so we can begin to build a picture that makes more sense to us.

Sometimes it’s difficult to talk to parents, friends or teachers about things that are making us anxious. A counsellor is someone who you can talk to in a different way, someone who will give you time and listen to you very carefully, who will not judge you or tell you what to do.

Counselling is about helping you to work things out for yourself, making decisions and choices and helping you to look at things differently. It can help you to feel better about yourself.

Counselling is not:

  • Someone telling you what to do

  • Being forced to talk about things you don’t want to talk about

  • Someone criticising or judging you.

What kind of things do people talk about in counselling?

Whatever matters to them. Whatever is worrying for them. It could be about lots of different things.

Here are some examples of problems and some thoughts, questions and feeling that you may have.

Parents Separating

      • Is it my fault? Their breaking up is breaking me up too.

Issues at home

      • I want to go out with my mates and make my own decisions. I’m arguing with parents all the time. They never listen to me, why should I listen to them?

Making friends/keeping friends

      • Everyone else seems to have loads of friends. I haven’t. What’s wrong with me.

I’m feeling angry but I don’t know why

      • I’m worried because I keep feeling that I want to lash out at people. I can’t control myself. I’m always in trouble at home and at school because of it.

Bullies are about

      • I don’t want to come to school. Bullies bug me every day and it’s getting worse.

A tough time at school

      • The work is piling up. I’m getting more and more behind. I can’t seem to get on with it. The longer that this goes on the worse I feel.

Death of someone special

      • I miss this person so much. I’ll never get through this. It’ll be like this forever. Nobody understands how bad I’m feeling.

Feelings about myself

      • Sometimes I don’t understand how I feel or why I feel like I do.

Who is the Counsellor?

Sarah Garton is a professionally qualified and experienced Counsellor who work within the Code of Ethics and Practice of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.

How will I know if Counselling is right for me?

You can meet the counsellor for one or more sessions to find out for yourself.

You can ask questions, see how you feel.

The Counsellor will talk to you about where and when to come and how long it can last.

Counselling is voluntary. You have the choice to come or not. Whatever you decide will be ok

Are my problems and worries private. Will other people know what I have talked about?

No. What you talk about is confidential. That means it’s between you and the Counselling Service. It’s your time and space to be with someone who is there for you and nobody else.

If you or any other people are at risk of harm the counsellor will need to talk to someone else to help keep you safe.

Will anything be written about me?

Keeping information about people safe and confidential is very important to the counsellor.

The counsellor will make some notes about what has been talked about in the session. These are kept safely by the counselling service. Counselling notes will be kept for 5 years, they will then be destroyed appropriately.

A counsellor presents their work to a counselling supervisor regularly. This person checks the counsellor is working well with you. Your full name will not be mentioned.

How do I get to see the Counsellor?

  • Talk to your Head of Year

  • Read about all the support that is available to students by CLICKING HERE and then apply for support using the form available on the page.