Counselling
Sir John Deane鈥檚 Sixth Form College offers a professional counselling service. The student may choose to self-refer via an internal post box, email the team directly or refer via their Progress Mentor.
The counselling team use a person-centred approach, which means they are there to listen to students, without judgement, taking the time and care to build trust, striving to provide a safe and supportive space to talk freely. As standard practice at the College, students will be offered up to six sessions, each session will last 50 minutes. If a student requires more than six sessions, the team can discuss what their next steps might be and support with any referrals.
Who are our College Counsellors?
We have professionally trained and fully qualified counsellors who are聽experienced in the Person centred Approach. They are all very experienced in this age group, supporting children and young people with a range of issues that they may be experiencing and struggling with.
All of our Counsellors are qualified members of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (BACP) or The national Counselling & Psychotherapy Society (NCPS), and work in line with the Ethical Framework of their professional body.
What is the Person-Centred Approach?
In counselling sessions we want students to feel free to explore their feelings in a safe and secure place. The Counsellor facilitates the student as someone who is a capable and autonomous individual with the ability to resolve their difficulties, and to realise their own strengths and potential, allowing them to make change to their lives in a positive way. The student is encouraged to lead the session and we don鈥檛 give advice or tell them what to do. Instead, the goal is to create a safe and supportive space where the person feels comfortable and confident to explore whatever is on their mind.
How do students refer/ask for help?
- Students can refer by asking a member of staff/mentor on their behalf
- They can self-refer by email聽 (counselling@sjd.ac.uk )
- Posting a self-referral form in our post box outside the counselling rooms in College
Confidentiality & Safeguarding
Although the counselling sessions are confidential between Counsellor and client, all students are made aware that as counsellors we cannot promise to keep information or be told secrets which might compromise their safety or wellbeing. If our Counsellors feel a student is not safe then we will always share our intention to contact their parents/carers unless to do so could put the student at greater risk of harm.
However, we also recognise that all matters relating to child protection are personal to children and families. Therefore, in this respect they are confidential and the Principal or Designated and Deputy Safeguarding Leads (DSLs) will only disclose information about a child to other members of staff on a need-to-know basis.
Useful Resources