Counselling can help your child talk and learn how to work out their problems, helping them to cope and communicate better.

Counselling can help your child with; coping with everyday worries, such as exam stress, and relationship issues with friends, family members and teachers.

Counselling can also help with self-harm concerns, grief, depression, anxiety and learning difficulties to name a few.

They will be offered up to 6 appointments, sessions last for 50 minutes.

Sometimes young people may need less than 6 sessions and sometimes more. It will be assessed on a case by case basis, in the instance where more than 6 sessions are required.

Our wait times can vary depending on a few things, so we cannot give you an exact time. However, it can be anywhere between 10 - 20 weeks.

Please see our FAQ on ‘How can best support my child whilst they are on the waiting list'

If you child wants you to come in, we will allow you to come into the first initial assessment for the first 5 minutes where we will explain what to expect and how it will work.

We will then ask for you to wait outside. We ask for this as this is a Counselling session for your child to discuss openly anything that is bothering them without limits.

Depending on what has been raised in session by your child, we will need to evaluate the confidentiality aspect versus safe guarding your child.

There will be times when an issue discussed in session would warrant breaking confidentiality to safeguard your child. This will likely be discussed with your child first, so they know what to expect.

Please note that our priority is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of your child.

Unless there is a safeguarding issue, we would keep everything your child has told to us confidential.

There are a number of things that your child can do whilst waiting to be seen, which may help. These include downloading a number of really useful Apps, dedicated to their mental and emotional wellbeing. You will find more information about this under 'Useful Resources'.

Self care is a term used to take time out of your day at least every week to care for yourself.

This can be taking a bath, going for a walk, talking to friend or relative who is good at listening, reading a book or spending time with pets or animals. We recommend you to encourage your child but also do the same for yourself.

Please see our ‘Useful Resources’ for more information on this.

Whilst your child is having sessions, we encourage you to take an interest but avoid questioning them on what was talked about.

This is a confidential space for them and your help and support in this way will help them.

We do not provide feedback to parents after sessions.

You are not required to let the school know your child is receiving counselling.

We can provide letters to confirm that they are receiving counselling. However, these are not to use for school attendance issues, as this is a separate matter.

If your child does not ‘gel’ well with their assigned Counsellor, you or your child are able to raise this with our team.

Someone from our Leadership Team will be in touch to discuss this with you and your child, to see the next best course of action.

If necessary, another Counsellor will be assigned to your child, to see through the rest of their sessions.

If your child is not able to attend a session please do let us know as soon as possible, as we can schedule that time to another young person.

If your child does not show up and we have not been informed, we will contact you or your child (depending on what has been stated on the assessment form) to find out the reasons why and look to reschedule another appointment.

We will not be able to reschedule if your child continues to not show up, as we will have to assume that they no longer want to come to counselling.

There are times when progress is being made and more than 6 sessions are required. We assess on a case by case basis and will extend from 6 sessions where possible.

Once the counselling programme has come to an end, there is a 6-month break before being able to be re-referred – you would then go back on the waiting list.