Finding out more about the school counselling service

Councillor Elaine Cowan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Education, and Children and Young People visited The Exchange team at St Joseph’s Academy recently to find out more about the service.

She met with Kerry Craig, School Counselling Coordinator from Education Services and Lee and Jolene from The Exchange, who represented the primary and secondary support teams respectively.

Councillor Cowan said: “This was a really worthwhile visit to find out more about The Exchange and to hear directly from Kerry, Lee and Jolene about the issues facing our children and young people within our schools and communities. The service is very different depending on the age of the child. Within primary schools, children are referred by their named person, which is normally their Headteacher or Depute HT. Within the secondary schools, young people are often referred by their Guidance teacher or they can access the service by making a self-referral online or by using the D-EXY App.

“We met within the really lovely counselling space within St Joseph’s Academy but sessions can take place in school, online, over the phone or at The Exchange office in Kilmarnock. And of course, we have made sure that the service is also available for Home Educated children and young people, or those not regularly attending school.

“We spoke extensively about the support provided to our children and young people. Lee explained the impact of the pandemic on children, particularly those who were in pre-school during lockdown and the group activities he uses to work through confidence issues and anxiety experienced by some children within a school setting, while helping to develop understanding and empathy towards their peers. Jolene explained her role in supporting our young people to creating coping mechanisms to manage their emotions, to reassure them that they aren’t alone in they how they feel and help improve their overall wellbeing.”

Kerry Craig said: “The Scottish Government funds the counselling service for children and young people over the age of 10 years, but we saw it as essential to introduce this to all children so the Health and Social Care Partnership provide funding for the under 10 service. The service, which has 13 mental health practitioners, is undoubtedly providing very valuable to the wellbeing of our children and young people.

“I am seeing significant improvements in the way our children and young people speak about their mental wellbeing and understand that this needs to be looked after as much as their physical health. Young people are being provided with tools to improve their confidence in talking about their own mental health, about how they feel and how it affects their behaviour. This can really help families to understand and communicate clearly, which improves all their mental wellbeing.

“We also see young people who have been diagnosed with dyslexia or ADHD, talking really openly about their conditions and the coping mechanisms they have in place to manage, and own, their condition, which is huge step forward.”

To find out more visit The Exchange website and EAC school Counselling Blog, which both have lots of good resources and advice parents and carers can use to support their child or young person with Mental Health and Wellbeing.

For more information please email: kerry.craig@eastayrshire.org.uk