Counselling Service

About the school counselling service

The Cherwell School offers a professional counselling service for students who may receive help from additional emotional support.

Counselling provides a young person with a regular, private space in which they can talk about what is happening in their life with a qualified counsellor. It is not about giving advice or telling a young person what to do. Instead, the counsellor works alongside them to help them understand their thoughts and feelings, make sense of difficulties and find their own ways forward. Our counsellors are fully qualified, specialise in working therapeutically with young people, and are members of the professional counselling and psychotherapy bodies BACP and UKCP.

What can the counselling service help with?

Young people come to counselling for many different reasons. These might include:

• Anxiety, worry or feeling overwhelmed
• Feeling low, unhappy or lonely
• Friendships or other relationships
• Difficulties at home or within the family
• Loss, bereavement or significant changes in life
• Self-esteem, confidence or how they feel about themselves
• School pressures or stress
• Understanding and managing difficult feelings
• Experiences from the past, or something that is difficult to put into words

A young person does not need to have a diagnosis, or even be able to explain exactly what is troubling them, in order to benefit from talking to someone. Sometimes students know what they want help with; sometimes they simply know that things do not feel right. Counselling will not necessarily be the most appropriate support for every student. If you are concerned about your young person and are unsure what support they need, we recommend speaking with their Deputy Year Leader in the first instance. They can discuss your concerns with you and help identify which of the schools support services may be most appropriate.

How many sessions are offered?

We usually offer students a block of eight counselling sessions. Sessions normally take place weekly. This gives the student and counsellor time to develop a therapeutic relationship and explore the issues that have brought the young person to counselling. Towards the end of the eight sessions, the counsellor and student can think together about the work they have done and what, if any, further support may be helpful.

Confidentiality and Safeguarding

Confidentiality is an important part of counselling. Young people need to know that they can speak openly with their counsellor without everything they say being reported back to their parents,teachers or other members of staff. We do not routinely share the content of counselling sessions with parents or school staff. There are, however, important limits to confidentiality. Like all members of school staff, our counsellors have a responsibility to act when information raises a safeguarding concern about a student or somebody else. Where we need to share information with the schools safeguarding team, we will let the student know before doing so and talk with them about what will happen.

Will I know if my young person is having counselling?

For students aged 13 and over, we do not routinely inform parents or carers that their young person is attending counselling. We do however, strongly encourage young people to consider involving their parents or carers wherever this feels appropriate. Parents and carers can be an important source of support, and the counsellor can help a young person think about whether and how they would like to talk with you. For students aged 11 or 12, we require permission from a parent or carer before counselling can begin.

How will my young person know when their appointment is?

Once a student has been referred to the councelling service, communication about appointments will take place through their school email account. Students should therefore check their school email account regularly, particularly while waiting for their first appointment. This is how we will let them know when and where their councelling session will take place.

How can my young person access counselling?

A students Deputy Year Leader can make a referral to the counselling service. A request for support can originate from the student themselves, a parent or carer, or a member of school staff. However, it is essential that this is what the student would like for themselves and we will respect their decision should they decide not to attend.

My young person is already receiving mental health support elsewhere. Can they also access
school counselling?

It is generally recommended that a young person does not receive two therapeutic interventions at the same time. If your young person is already working with a private therapist, CAMHS practitioner or another mental health professional, we would usually recommend that this work is given time to have an impact before beginning counselling in school.

Different services may work in different ways and have different therapeutic goals. Having two interventions taking place at the same time can sometimes make it more difficult for the young person, their family and the professionals involved to understand what is helping and to assess the impact of each intervention.

If you still have concerns, please speak with the school about what support may be appropriate.

Is there a waiting list?

Yes, there is usually a waiting list for school councelling although wait times vary throughout the school year depending on demand. Once a referral has been made, we will arrange an appointment as soon as a counselling space becomes available.  

If you care concerned about your young person whilst they are waiting, please speak with their Deputy Year Leader, who can help you consider what other support may be available in the meantime.

Cherwell School Useful Leaflet