FAQ’s for children/young people
What’s counselling about?
Sometimes we all have problems that are worrying. Think of a confusing jigsaw when all the pieces are difficult to match together. Talking about a problem in counselling is like sorting out all the pieces so we can begin to build a picture that makes more sense to us.
Sometimes it’s difficult to talk to parents, friends or teachers about things that are making us anxious. A counsellor is someone who you can talk to in a different way, someone who will listen to you very carefully, who will not judge you or tell you what to do.
Counselling is about helping you to work things out for yourself, making decisions and choices and helping you to look at things differently. It can help you to feel better about yourself.
What kind of things do people talk about in counselling?
Whatever matters to you? Whatever is worrying for you. It could be about lots of different things. Here are some examples of problems and some thoughts, questions and feelings that you may have.
For example:
How will I know if Counselling is right for me?
You can meet me for one or more sessions to find out for yourself. You can ask questions, see how you feel.
Counselling is voluntary. You have the choice to come or not. Whatever you decide will be OK.
My problems and worries are private. Will other people know what I have talked about?
No. What you talk about is confidential. That means it’s between you and I. It’s your time and your space to be with someone who is there for you and nobody else. Obviously if you want to talk to anyone else about what you have discussed in the counselling session, that is up to you. I will keep confidentiality unless you are at risk of harm, I may then need to talk to someone else to help keep you safe, but will always try to talk with you about this first.
Will anything be written about me?
I will make some notes about what has been talked about in the session. These are kept safely in a locked file. All information written and discussed is private and confidential unless there is an agreed or overriding need to share this information in your best interests.
I do present my work to a counselling supervisor regularly. This person checks that I am working well with you. Neither your name, nor your school is mentioned.
Sometimes we all have problems that are worrying. Think of a confusing jigsaw when all the pieces are difficult to match together. Talking about a problem in counselling is like sorting out all the pieces so we can begin to build a picture that makes more sense to us.
Sometimes it’s difficult to talk to parents, friends or teachers about things that are making us anxious. A counsellor is someone who you can talk to in a different way, someone who will listen to you very carefully, who will not judge you or tell you what to do.
Counselling is about helping you to work things out for yourself, making decisions and choices and helping you to look at things differently. It can help you to feel better about yourself.
What kind of things do people talk about in counselling?
Whatever matters to you? Whatever is worrying for you. It could be about lots of different things. Here are some examples of problems and some thoughts, questions and feelings that you may have.
For example:
- PARENTS SEPARATING Is it my fault? Their breaking up is breaking me up too.
- CHAOS AT HOME I want to go out with my mates and make my own decisions. I’m arguing with parents all the time. They never listen to me, why should I listen to them???
- MAKING FRIENDS/KEEPING FRIENDS Everyone else seems to have loads of friends. I haven’t. What’s wrong with me?
- I’M FEELING ANGRY BUT I DON’T KNOW WHY I’m worried because I keep feeling that I want to lash out at people. I can’t control myself. I’m always in trouble at home and at school because of it.
- BULLIES ARE ABOUT I don’t want to come to school. Bullies bug me every day and it’s getting worse.
- A TOUGH TIME AT SCHOOL The work is piling up. I’m getting more and more behind. I can’t seem to get on with it. The longer that this goes on the worse I feel.
- DEATH OF SOMEONE SPECIAL I miss this person so much. I’ll never get through this. It’ll be like this forever. Nobody understands how bad I’m feeling.
- FEELINGS ABOUT MYSELF Sometimes I don’t understand how I feel or why I feel like I do.
How will I know if Counselling is right for me?
You can meet me for one or more sessions to find out for yourself. You can ask questions, see how you feel.
Counselling is voluntary. You have the choice to come or not. Whatever you decide will be OK.
My problems and worries are private. Will other people know what I have talked about?
No. What you talk about is confidential. That means it’s between you and I. It’s your time and your space to be with someone who is there for you and nobody else. Obviously if you want to talk to anyone else about what you have discussed in the counselling session, that is up to you. I will keep confidentiality unless you are at risk of harm, I may then need to talk to someone else to help keep you safe, but will always try to talk with you about this first.
Will anything be written about me?
I will make some notes about what has been talked about in the session. These are kept safely in a locked file. All information written and discussed is private and confidential unless there is an agreed or overriding need to share this information in your best interests.
I do present my work to a counselling supervisor regularly. This person checks that I am working well with you. Neither your name, nor your school is mentioned.