Have you had a counsellor visit your school?

[Imsosorryalan]

To work with children? Maybe not directly in your teaching roles, but have you heard of a counsellor coming in to school to work with particular children?
It's an area that really interests me as a career but not sure it's realistic as a profession!

[Mostlyjustaluker]

Yes, through relate. In my current school we have number of children who assess counsellors through CAHMS and a domestic violence charity.

[tethersend]

Yes, many schools employ a full-time counsellor. Others buy in a certain number of hours a week. Some use Pupil Premium money to pay for a counsellor for a specified amount of time.

I'd say it was realistic, but it also depends on where you are in the country.

Worth considering also that many private ESBD schools/residential placements employ counsellors on a regular/full time basis.

[ElizabethHoover]

ALL THE TIME!
masses of them

[Imsosorryalan]

That's good to know! I didn't think of esbd units either so will also research that. I have never come across one so was unsure. Good news

[Imsosorryalan]

Would you say it's more in secondary or primary or both?

[ElizabethHoover]

secondary but also I know they do exist in primary.
lay chaplains do some self esteem work too
But also CBT therapists, CAMHS people, ALL sorts

[MsDran]

Our primary school employs a counsellor 3 days a week.

[GraceGrape]

My school has a regular counsellor through the Place2Be charity. I think you can do voluntary work with them if you have/are doing training to get some experience. We are a primary school.

[BackforGood]

Also quite a lot of schools buy in charities to do this sort of work.

[MaraThonbar]

I also worked in a school with a resident Place2Be counsellor (all through, pupils from both primary and secondary phases involved). In addition to her, there were a number of counsellors who volunteered for Place2Be to keep their clinical hours up. They are, I think, a good starting point for your research.

[AlfieandAnnieRose]

Yes I am one of those trainee therapists working in a school as my placement. We have to get a certain amount of hours to qualify and get accreditation. The school I work at was set up through a charity such as place2be

[hellhasnofurylikeahungrywoman]

Yes. My children attended schools (primary and secondary) that were directly involved in the murders in Soham in 2012. DS was a classmate of the girls and DD was a friend of one of the children and counsellors worked with the children through those difficult times including working with them to decide what should happen with the girls desks and in how best to remember the children. They were also involve din helping the children to work through what should happen to Huntley's house.

Later a counsellor was involved with dd's peers again when a close friend developed cancer.

[spanieleyes]

We had a counsellor in when a pupil's mother died ( primary)

[PelicanDaisy]

Look at Place2Be, a friend works for them and is an in-school counsellor. They do a masters in London I believe.

[cheapandcheerful]

I have taught in the same primary school for 7 years and the only time I have known a counsellor to come in was when a few of the year 6 children witnessed their friend killed by a car after school one day.