The Retreat

Therapeutic Counselling

At Western Primary School we recognise that, nationwide, one in ten children between the age of five and sixteen years, (that's three in every class!) may experience mental health challenges.

In school, we are able to support children who are struggling with issues such as low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, parental separation, bereavement, loss, bullying, phobias, OCD, self-harm, food controlling, identity, school refusal, attachment, relational and developmental trauma.

When children are struggling emotionally, they can often find it difficult to understand their feelings or to express themselves verbally. Counselling young people requires specialist skills which are subtly woven through each session.  It is through following each individual child’s process and working with a variety of creative media (sandtray, kinetic sand, clay, painting, small world and games) that guides a child to the working through of ‘stuck’ feelings. Therapeutic counselling is child-led and allows the opportunity to find a way to move towards emotional resilience and a positive self-image. The importance of working through, and processing difficulties at an early age may mean that a child is less likely to suffer mental health difficulties in later life.

Our counselling provision is offered two days a week during school hours. We often have a waiting list so we also offer a provision for after school private sessions.