School Counselling Service

PADDINGTON ACADEMY COUNSELLING SERVICE FOR STUDENTS

What is counselling

Counselling is when you talk about personal or emotional issues to someone who is trained to help. They will listen to you without judging you, or offering advice. They can help you to manage situations and find ways through difficulties in your life.

Is counselling for me

Often, people think that their problem is too small to talk about, or too serious, overwhelming, or private for anyone to help. Counselling can be useful whatever the problem is.

There are many reasons why people might come for counselling. Some examples of these are:

• Anxiety
• Feeling Depressed
• Problems in relationships
• Problems in their family
• The stress of studying for exams
• Coming to terms with someone’s death
• Dealing with hurtful or frightening things that may have happened to them
• Confusion about sexuality or sex
• Lack of confidence
• Shyness
• A general feeling that something’s not ok

Talking about what is on their mind can help students become more confident and to concentrate more in class. In addition the experience of counselling can help the way students view themselves and relationships in general.

What happens when I meet a counsellor for the first time?

The first meeting is an opportunity for you to meet with the counsellor. You can discuss issues that are affecting you and find out more about counselling and how it might help. Sessions will last between 30 and 45 minutes. A decision will then be made about continuing to see the counsellor. Some students may meet once, where others will come to see the counsellor over a period of time.

As well as specific appointments students can also see the counsellor at drop in sessions.

Is it totally confidential?

Counselling is confidential. This means that the counsellor does not disclose information to others such as your teachers, family members or friends. There are rare occasions when a counsellor may need to disclose confidential information to others. This is when there might be a threat of harm to yourself or others. In all situations the counsellor will try and discuss the situation with you first before any confidential information is disclosed to others.

When it is appropriate we will work with parents to facilitate the counselling process. Counsellors can help parents understand emotional struggles in adolescence.

How do I contact the counsellor?

Students are usually referred to the school counsellors through the Student support Panel, teachers, and students referring themselves, and during drop ins

To make contact with the school counsellors:
Miss Gordon on Tel: 0207-479-3941 email: maureen.gordon@paddington-academy.org
Ms Fejzic on Tel: 0207-479-3969 email: edina.fezic@paddington-academy.org