School Counselling
I currently work on ‘The Right Angle Project’ for ‘Talk, Listen and Change’ as a young person counsellor (CYP).
I go to various schools in Greater Manchester, seeing young people who have been identified as those most in need of counselling. I counsel young people from Year 7 upwards.
Counselling is one of the most common psychological interventions delivered in schools where children/young persons can explore, understand and aim to overcome issues in their lives causing them difficulty, distress and/or confusion.
Counselling is a non-stigmatising strategy to help bring about improvements in mental health and wellbeing. Counselling helps young people/children with personal, social and emotional issues affecting their wellbeing, attendance, learning and academic achievements, and relationships; and also develops skills to strengthen their resilience and deal with their problems and challenges.
I have experience and a proven track record in counselling young persons presenting with, low self-esteem/self-worth, depression, anxiety, abuse and more.
Just providing a place to be safe and tell their storey gives them a release and comfort that they are being heard and understood.
The facts: children’s mental health in the UK 20% of children have a mental health problem in any given year, and about 10% at any one time (Mental Health Foundation, 2005). That is around three children in an average class.
Between one in 12 and one in 15 children and young people deliberately self-harm (Mental Health Foundation, 2006).
More than half of all adults with mental health problems were diagnosed in childhood. Less than half were treated appropriately at the time (Kim-Cohen, Caspi and Moffitt, 2003).
Around three-quarters of children who develop a mental illness are unknown to any services.
School-based counselling is one of the most prevalent forms of psychological therapy for children and young people in the UK with between 70,000–90,000 cases seen in UK secondary schools each year.
However, provision is inconsistent and many children in England do not have access to a counsellor in their school.
To schools – I offer a day rate package and tailor to the schools needs. Contact me at ialfordcounsellingservices@gmail.com for more information
Looked After Children
Before I trained as counsellor I worked as a residential support worker for many years in residential homes, some for youth offending, sexual behaviours and some just emotional. I supported young persons with very complex and emotional needs.
Alongside this I was a foster carer for teenage girls who suffered serious sexual abuse.
I witnessed first hand struggles some of these young people faced on a daily basis. It saddened me to see the lack of counselling/therapy these young people were offered.
The traumas experienced by young people who enter the care system include the breakdown of primary caring relationships, and may be compounded by maltreatment, domestic violence, and the impact of mental illness.
Life in the care system can also face children and young people with the stresses of prolonged uncertainty and disrupted relationships.
Understanding the impact of early experience and disrupted attachments is central to supporting young people in care in recovery from trauma and unhealthy childhood experiences.
Children who cannot rely on consistent parental care develop ways of managing un-contained anxieties and fears in order to cope. These defences can then prevent children from making the new relationships which are essential for recovery.
The Facts: Untreated mental health and psychosocial problems in childhood lead to emotional disturbance and difficulties with learning and relationships that have long-term effects in adolescence and adult life.
Childhood conduct disorders cost the economy more than £3,000 per year per child and this escalates to £70,000 as the young person reaches adulthood.
Over two-thirds of young people leaving care have no educational qualifications and half of all prisoners under the age of 25 have been in care.
Teenage pregnancy, homelessness and substance abuse are also significant risks for care leavers. Adolescent counselling can provide a intervention tailored to the needs of the individual young person. This work can prevent costly placement breakdowns and the need for residential placement moves.
I have a deep understanding of the local authority arena and the framework that it abides to, but more importantly I have a deeper understanding of the needs of the ‘looked after children’ and all the issues they challenge on a daily basis.
By providing counselling it will help the young person have a place to reflect and be heard, to be valued and receive unconditional positive regard. I don’t promise to change or alter their life circumstances but I do promise to help the young person have an improved perspective and acceptance.
To residential managers and owners – I provide a day package on site or hourly rate at my office in Stockport. Please contact me on ialfordcounsellingservices@gmail.com for more information.