Our team is led by Nicola Dunbar, a Psychodynamic Psychotherapist working with Children, Young People and Families. Working alongside her are Jess Burnett and Claire Green, also Psychodynamic Psychotherapists working with Children, Young People and Families. The team are registered with the professional bodies BPC and TSP and together they have many years of experience in mainstream primary and secondary schools, special schools and clinics.
We provide a professional, confidential counselling service based in school and tailored to the individual requirements of children, parents and staff.
What we help with
We know that when children are stressed or unhappy they are less able to function well in all areas of their lives. At school this can impact on their capacity to learn and to participate in everything else school has to offer. It can also affect their relationships with friend, their self-confidence and life for everyone at home.
These are some of the difficulties that regularly come up:
- Anxiety and depression
- Parents splitting up
- Bereavement
- Relationship problems within families and peers
- Domestic abuse
- Behavioural problems
- Coping with changes
- Complexities and challenges of parenting
- Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
- Understanding and parenting neurodiversity
What we offer
There are different levels of support at school available to help children and their families through the difficult times. We create a therapeutic plan with parents and teachers that is tailored to the needs of individual children and their families. It might include one or more of the following:
- Individual child psychotherapy
- Family psychotherapy
- Consultation and support for parents through parent work
- Group psychotherapy with children
- Individual Music Therapy for children
- Girls Groups
- Nurture Groups for younger children
- Links and liaison with other professionals supporting your child
- Consultation and support for staff
Feedback from parents about our service
Counselling service has given him space to talk, he feels like he is being heard and his thoughts & feelings are valid and important.
Parent
The counselling service has been excellent – so much helpful advice but also realistic goals and time frames set. We are so grateful to them and the school.
Parent
Girls Group has been such an amazing experience in my life. I enjoyed knowing that I am not the only one that has friendship problems. I felt open to share stuff anytime. I finally felt that I truly belonged. I never want it to end, but luckily some people are going to the same secondary school. Thank you so much, I’ll never forget it.
Girls Group Participant
The guidance I was given in dealing with my child helped me focus on taking small steps to address the issues raised with the counsellor.
Parent
I want to thank everyone for all the support and understanding given to my boy.
Parent
How to access the counselling service
- Through your child’s class teacher
- Emailing admin@coleridgeprimary.net, marked for the attention of the counselling service