In an emergency please call 999 or go to your local A&E.
What is Counselling?
- Counselling is offered to young people so that they have a safe space to be heard and listened to without judgement or fear. They have the space to talk about those things that cause them fear, worry, confusion or distress as well as develop resilience, self-acceptance and an understanding of their experiences which can help them develop future coping skills and emotional well-being.
- Counselling is a talking therapy that helps an individual work through their problems and develop strategies to cope and manage for the future.
- It is a private space to talk and can take place face to face, on the phone, via email or by video chat.
- It is confidential between the client and counsellor unless there is a safeguarding concern that the counsellor will legally have to tell someone.
- It is a free school-based service. The service is for primary schools, secondary schools and those learning in alternative education provisions.
Counselling Sessions
- During the first session with a young person, the Counsellor will always explain the boundaries of confidentiality, check that they are fully understood and in what circumstances confidentiality would need to be broken.
- Confidentiality is where what you talk about in a session is not shared with anyone else. There are some exceptions to this.
- Sessions take place in school and can last up to 50 mins
- Counsellors do not give advice or tell young people what to do - instead they help young people to make their own choices to facilitate personal growth and self-awareness.
Confidentiality and Safeguarding
- The content of the session is not shared with anyone which creates a safe and confidential space that enables the young person to work on the things that are worrying them without fear or judgement.
- There are only specific circumstances where information from a counselling session would be shared:
- If the young person disclosed they were at risk from harm or
- If they knew of harm happening to another or intended to harm themselves or others
If you are worried about a young person please contact:
Social services: 01492 575111
Police: 999/101
I am a child/young person - how can I access the Counselling Service?
- Talk to someone at school such as the link person, a teacher or school nurse
- Refer yourself
- Ask another person such as parent or GP or via emailing the advice line: conwyps5@Hwbcymru.net
Information for Parents/Guardians/ Referrers
- Counselling is a safe space for the young person to discuss things, it doesn’t mean that they don’t want to talk to you.
- We welcome support from parents/guardians.
- All sessions are confidential and unless the young person discloses a safeguarding issue the session content remains between the young person and their counsellor.
- A young person aged 14 and over can self-refer without permission of a parent or guardian as long as they are assessed as Gillick competent*. Children in primary school and up to year 9 will need to be referred to the service with consent. *Gillick competence is a term originating in England and is used in medical law to decide whether a child (16 years or younger) is able to consent to his or her own medical treatment, without the need for parental permission or knowledge.
- Once the young person is referred to the school-based counselling service their referral will be discussed at the SBC Moderation (multiagency) panel to ensure the correct support is offered to the young person. Notification of the outcome will be made and if applicable the young person will go on the waiting list and be offered an appointment in due course. If it is decided that school based counselling is not appropriate and another service is more suitable this will be offered.
- All counsellors work to the BACP guidelines and ethical framework. For more information please visit www.bacp.org.uk
- The counsellors also work within Conwy County Borough Council’s policies and procedures and relevant legal guidance. The team has regular case supervision to ensure support is available to them.
The Team
- The team is consists of qualified counsellors, all of whom have years of experience working alongside young people.
- Appointments can be made with male or female counsellors, and bilingual support is also available.
- Counselling approaches can include PC/ CBT/ DBT/ ACT, but are not limited to, and are individually tailored to fit the needs of the student (or, tailored to your needs depending who it is aimed at.)
- Some members of the team are trained in delivering group work including Seasons for Growth, DBT Skills, Friends for Life and Youth Mental Health First Aid.