School Counselling & Student Support
For Parents & Carers
Counselling provides a safe and confidential space for young people to talk to a trained counsellor about issues and concerns they face. The counsellor will help the young person explore their thoughts, feelings and actions so they can develop a better understanding of themselves and of others.
Counsellors do not give advice or tell young people what to do, instead they help them to make their own choices to facilitate personal growth and self-awareness.
Counselling offers student the opportunity to talk in order to:
- Develop emotional health and wellbeing
- Overcome barriers to learning and achieve their full potential
- Increase resilience so they are better able to manage personal difficulties
- Develop self-esteem and self-confidence
What is talked about during counselling is confidential. However, the safety and welfare of our students is paramount and there are circumstances when information shared in confidence may need to be passed on. Students will sign an agreement acknowledging when confidentiality may be broken.
Our School Counsellor is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapyhttps://www.bacp.co.uk/about-us/about-bacp/ and adheres to the ethical framework (found here https://www.bacp.co.uk/media/3103/bacp-ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions-2018.pdf)
In order to prioritise and manage demand, access to counselling is subject to triage. Counselling will be best suited to students who are experiencing emotional difficulties that transcend both the home and school environment. If counselling is not deemed to be the most appropriate intervention, a student may be put forward to the School Wellbeing Service , or an alternative intervention. If a student is receiving counselling elsewhere, or has recently finished, it is unlikely that they will be considered for the service.
If you would like your (child) to be considered for some counselling support you can refer to the service by having them complete the self-referral form here: School Counselling Self-Referral Form sending it to counselling@fulford.york.sch.uk or printing it and handing it in to the PSU (using a sealed envelope marked ‘school counsellor’). It is always advantageous to have the student’s own words to ensure that we are responding to their needs and their agenda. After the form has been submitted the student will be contacted in school to acknowledge receipt and explain what will happen next.
Disclaimer: Please note that the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and School Social Worker also have access to the mailbox and may see your referral. The email address counselling@fulford.york.sch.uk is for referrals only. For any other queries please contact the school on 01904 633 300.
For Students
Counselling offers a safe, non-judgemental space to explore your feelings and work through any issues you are experiencing. Your counsellor will work with you by listening carefully and trying to understand how things look and feel from your point of view. By doing this they will be able to help you to view your situation in a different way and you may work together to find solutions to any problems you might have.
Counselling can help with many things. It might help you to see things more clearly, increase your resilience, build self-esteem and self-confidence, or help you to deal with difficult feelings such as low mood or anxiety.
Sessions will typically last between 30 minutes and an hour, taking place during the school day in a way that is as least disruptive to learning as possible.
Sessions are typically scheduled once per week and will be reviewed regularly to determine the length of the support.
What is talked about during counselling is confidential however there are certain circumstances when confidentiality may need to be broken if your counsellor is concerned that you are at serious risk of harm.
Your counsellor would always try to talk to you about any concerns before sharing something you have said with anybody else.
Your counsellor would discuss this in more detail in your first session and ask you to sign an agreement to confirm you understand the limits to confidentiality.
If you would like to be considered for some counselling support you can refer to the service by completing the self-referral form here: School Counselling Self-Referral Form .
You can then either print it off and take it to the PSU (use a sealed envelope labelled ‘school counsellor’) or send to counselling counselling@fulford.york.sch.uk. If you need support to fill in the referral form you can request this via a parent/ carer, your Assistant Head of Year, or a trusted member of staff.
Disclaimer: Please note that the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) and School Social Worker also have access to the mailbox and may see your referral so provide only brief details. You will have a chance to discuss things in further detail at your assessment.
