School counselling & therapy

We have qualified counsellors and therapists based on-site in over 80 schools supporting children and young people with complex mental health difficulties.

 

Why this is needed

Mental health issues are a growing concern; one in five children have a probable  mental health problem.  That is an average of six in every classroom.

Poor mental health can impact on every aspect of children’s lives.  They can struggle to concentrate in class, or even to attend school at all.  They can find it hard to make friends and become increasingly isolated.

Without appropriate support mental health difficulties can stay with young people throughout their adult lives and seriously impact on their long-term health and wellbeing.  This can lead to self-medication through drugs/alcohol, self-harm and even suicide.

“I felt worthless.  I didn’t want to speak to anyone.  I just felt isolated and alone”

Girl, aged 11

 

How we help

For over 35 years, we have been partnering with schools across London to combat the growing mental health crisis. Our counsellors and therapists work with young people to help them come to terms with their difficulties, unburden themselves and address issues causing distress.  This may be due to a range of issues such as abuse, bereavement, neglect or domestic violence.

Alongside talking therapies, we use a range of creative therapies (play, drama, art, music, dance and movement), helping young people express difficult emotions they may struggle to communicate verbally. This ensures our service is accessible and engaging for children/young people of all ages.

As a result of these early intervention services children and young people develop greater resilience, are better able to cope and their emotional wellbeing significantly improves.

“Having someone to speak to about my problems has helped me so much… I’m calmer and don’t feel so sad anymore’’

Boy, aged 13

 

Improving children’s futures

By providing support at an early stage we give vulnerable children the tools they need to improve their mental health and unlock their full potential.  Over 90% of the children and young people who access our services have shown a marked improvement in their emotional wellbeing. Ultimately, this ensures they can overcome the disadvantages they face and have better chances in life.

“It is an excellent service.  We’ve seen real improvements in the wellbeing of pupils, putting them in a far stronger position to engage with learning and achieve at school”

Eleesa Dowding, Headteacher, Harmondsworth Primary School, Hillingdon

Hear first hand from a headteacher, about the positive impact of our service.
Connect-Ed at Longfield Primary School, Harrow

 

If your school is interested in this service please visit our dedicated site: Connect-Ed website or contact us to discuss how we can help.