Counselling
The Space offers a counselling service to children and young people aged 9-17 years. This is usually undertaken via face to face but we also offer telephone or on-line counselling. Before we tell you how to access this the information below provides information to help you decide if this service is suitable for you or if a parent/carer suitable for your child/young person.
What is counselling?
Counselling gives children and young people a safe and confidential space to talk about any worries or problems they are experiencing. This can range from stress of exams, bereavement and feeling anxious about situations. Talking things through in a safe setting, with regular appointments over a specific period can help young people gain new and different perspectives. This often leads to changes in how they feel about themselves, their relationships, the way they think and behave.
How does counselling work?
Having thoughts, feelings and fears listened to, explained, or understood by someone who is not directly involved in their life proves hugely beneficial. We know that young people value and benefit having a confidential setting and a regular time to talk. This helps to form and build a trusting relationship with their Counsellor which helps the child/young person to better understand themselves. Counselling can also enable children/young people to see other options for moving forwards and with help access support from others if they need it. Sometimes just ‘talking things through’ with a Counsellor can help children/young people to feel clearer or more confident about putting into action something they had in mind already.
What does a counsellor do?
The Space counsellors are qualified and trained to listen and understand children/young people; to see things from their viewpoint. As well as listening, counsellors also help them to clarify their problems or challenges, see patterns in their thinking and/or behaviour and support them to make positive changes if that is what they want. It is important to note that the counsellor’s role is not to give advice or tell clients what to do – their role is to help children/young people to make their own choices to help equip themselves with tools to cope and build resilience.
Who can come to counselling?
Is counselling confidential?
Yes, however there are exceptional circumstances when confidentiality needs to be broken and this is clearly explained to the child/young person at the start of any counselling relationship.
Confidentiality will be broken if the Counsellor believes that a client is at significant risk of harm to either themselves or others. In these situations, the Counsellor will speak to the Space’s Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). If we are supporting a child/young person in a school setting, we will immediately report a concern the school’s Designated Safeguarding Lead or Deputy who will take the necessary action.
Please note that third parties cannot be present.
What should you do if you think you or if you are a parent/carer who believes that a young person would benefit from counselling?
Please complete, and return our Request for support form. If you are a parent/carer provide the young person with a copy of this information and a copy of our Request for support form.
If you are a parent/carer or health care colleague please note, that to ensure that the young person is agreeable to a request for support to go forward and the ensure a successful outcome we only accept requests for support from the young person themselves or a parent/carer with the young person’s permission. In our experience when a young person comes to our service willingly, they are more receptive to the service. Naturally, there may be occasions when a young person needs help completing the request for support form this is acceptable BUT they must sign the form themselves or agree that you can seek support on their behalf.
Is there a cost to this service?
To remain sustainable, we suggest a contribution of £15 per session, (though the actual cost is £45). If this amount is difficult, please contact us to discuss options. Higher contributions are appreciated and help support our ongoing work.
We also depend on funding bodies that require us to demonstrate the impact of our services on young people. To provide this information, we ask children/young people, and where appropriate, parents/carers, to assist by completing surveys during the counselling period and a case study at the end, if they are willing.
As our services are in high demand, we have a clear policy regarding unattended sessions, which will be explained by the counsellor at the beginning of counselling