Counselling and Play Therapy in Schools
The School Counselling and Play Therapy Service has been providing counselling and play therapy to primary and secondary schools (both Catholic and non-Catholic) within the Diocese of Westminster since 1986.
What We Do
Our qualified and accredited counsellors and therapists provide counselling and play therapy to children in need of emotional support. Child-friendly techniques such as art, play, drama, story and games are used to enable children and young people to explore their feelings and experiences.
By providing a safe and confidential space for children to express their emotions and talk about their problems our counsellors and therapists can help children to understand themselves, feel valued, develop self-esteem, and explore and manage their difficulties.
Who it can help
Children and young people are referred to the service for a broad range of emotional and behavioural concerns including:
- Problems at home, for example, parental separation/divorce
- Problems with peer relationships
- School related difficulties, for example, non-attendance
- Bereavement and loss
- Bullying
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety and depression
- Stress
- Self harm including alcohol and drug use, and eating problems
- Disruptive behaviour
- Health problems including serious illness
- Child abuse
How we work with schools
We deliver services to individual schools under service level agreements, as well as services to schools in partnership with local authorities using local and national funding streams. Our counsellors and therapists are based in school and see children and young people on a weekly basis for individual and/or group counselling. They receive line management from the Catholic Children's Society, as well as training and external clinical supervision .
We work closely with the school and other partners to provide a service that meets the specific circumstances of the school and its community. Services currently running within schools include individual therapy sessions, group work including issue-based groups (e.g. focussing on social skills or bereavement), and self-referral services for older children and young people.
In addition, the counsellor or therapist works closely with school staff, receiving referrals from a link person such as the SENCO. This collaborative approach ensures that staff can gain a fuller understanding of the specific needs of the individual child.
The School Counselling Service is based at St Charles Square. For help planning a visit by public transport, we recommend using the Transport for London journey planner at www.tfl.gov.uk/journeyplanner.