This page provides a series of questions and answers about counselling and how talking to one of the school counsellors may help you.

Please pop in and see us on the middle floor of Roberts if you would like to find out more about the counselling service at JCG.

Counselling is when you talk to a trained person about something that is on your mind or is a problem to you. While the issues brought to counselling vary from person to person, some typical examples are:

• Low self-esteem or confidence
• Feeling anxious or in low mood
• Bullying
• Relationship problems
• Family difficulties
• School stress
• Self-harm
• Loss of someone close

While it can be good to talk to friends, family or teachers it can sometimes feel easier to talk to an independent person. This is when you may want to think about talking to a school counsellor. A counsellor will listen to you very carefully and will not judge or tell you what to do.

You might feel better just talking about something that has been bothering you, knowing that you have been listened to and understood. You might want to change something, sort out a problem or make a decision. Counselling is about helping you to work things out for yourself, to help you make decisions and choices and help you look at things differently.

It is very important to the counsellor to keep information safe and confidential. The counsellor may take some notes about what has been spoken about in the session and these will be stored securely where no one is able to access them, other than the counsellor. All information written or discussed is private and confidential unless there is an agreed overriding reason to share this information if it is in your best interest.

Counsellors are not allowed to talk about what people tell them in counselling. It is private and confidential, which means it is between you and the counsellor.

Obviously if you want to talk to anyone else about what you have discussed in the counselling session, this is up to you.

The only time this will change is when you give your permission for someone else to be told or very importantly, if the counsellor thinks that you or someone else may be at risk or in danger.

If this situation arises, the counsellor may need to get help from others to keep you safe. The counsellor will talk to you about this and together with you, will try and find the best way forward.

Others might know you are coming to see the counsellor so that teachers are aware that you will be out of lessons for example, but they will not know what you have been talking about.

• Email one of the counsellors.
• Drop by the counselling room during break, lunch or form time.
• Speak to one of the Student Support Team, who can arrange an appointment for you.
• Speak to a teacher you trust, and they will arrange an appointment for you.

Fi Daniels [email protected]

Elif Mossop [email protected]