East Ayrshire School Counselling and Psychological Wellbeing Support Service -supporting children and young people
Children and young people across East Ayrshire have been benefitting from the East Ayrshire School Counselling Service, a service that has been providing counselling and wellbeing support since January 2021.
Hundreds of children and young people, over the age of 10 years, have accessed the service, which is provided by The Exchange, and have been given a private space to talk about issues that are troubling them.
Ten counsellors and practitioners, providing 168 hours of counselling and psychological wellbeing support every week, have supported our children and young people through a number of issues including bereavement, transitions and change, managing stress, understanding feelings and behaviours, self-worth, positive self-image, body image, relationships and friendships.
The service is set to be expanded further and from Tuesday 19 April psychological wellbeing support will be available for children age 5 to 10 years. The therapeutic interventions for younger children will focus on helping them develop resources that they need in order to cope more effectively with adverse circumstances and life events. Support will also be provided to parents and carers so that families can develop the skills they need to support one another and improve their overall resilience and psychological wellbeing.
Kerry Jarvis, School Counselling Coordinator said: “The East Ayrshire School Counselling Service is providing much needed counselling and psychological wellbeing support to children and young people across East Ayrshire. Our counsellors and practitioners provide a safe, private space for children and young people to talk openly about issues that are troubling them. This can be bereavement and loss, transitions like divorce or separation of parents or carers, and a wide range of issues like self-worth or helping understand the connection between thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
“In our secondary schools, young people will generally be referred to the counselling service by their guidance teacher and they also have the option to refer themselves. Counselling is confidential and young people over the age of 12 years have the right to see a counsellor without consent from parents. However, their guidance teacher will always talk to the young person about this before referring them and will encourage them to involve their parents or carers too, where appropriate. In our primary schools, support for children will be requested either by their teacher or a key adult within their school; parents or carers are always consulted for permission and encouraged to be part of the process.
“From feedback provided by our children and young people, parents and carers and our schools, we are seeing the way our service is helping to change lives and support our children and young people through difficult times.
"The counsellors and practitioners from The Exchange are also supporting schools with preventative approaches towards mental health and wellbeing such as professional learning for staff, resources that can be used to promote resilience with the whole class, and small group supports for areas such as exam stress. In addition to this, The Exchange have begun reflective practice sessions for Pupil Support staff in some secondary schools.
“These sessions encourage and support staff to talk about the personal and emotional impact of their work. This is done in a safe, confidential and supportive setting. In order to effectively support the mental health and wellbeing of our children and young people, it is crucial that we also ensure we support the wellbeing of school staff, particularly those with a pastoral role. The Pupil Support staff in East Ayrshire who are part of the initial reflective practice groups have already positively commented on the impact it's having on their own wellbeing."
Linda McAulay-Griffiths, Chief Education Officer and Head of Education said: “I am absolutely delighted that the East Ayrshire School Counselling Service will be expanding its service after the Easter holidays and providing wider support to our primary and secondary age children and young people.
“People talk a lot about how resilient children are, and without doubt they are, but evidence from the World Health Organisation also shows that half of all mental health issues are established by the age of 14 years. Some children and young people need our support to further develop their resilience and develop approaches that will help them with adversities that may face them.
“Thankfully counselling is starting to become commonplace and an important part of the support we provide to our children and young people to help them reach their full potential. It can still be a bit daunting for many people though and the team are happy to answer any questions and reassure children and young people, and parents and carers about the service they provide.”
More information
More information about the East Ayrshire School Counselling Service and psychological wellbeing supports provided by The Exchange, is available online where you can find information leaflets and helpful resources for children, young people, parents and carers.
If you are a Young Person over the age of 12 who has attended counselling with The Exchange, or the parent/carer of a child who has been supported by The Exchange, we are keen to hear your feedback.
Could you please take a few minutes to complete the glow form: