The world’s largest and oldest youth charity. In this particular region of Sussex and Surrey, it supports 10,000 young people.
Within the school that I lead at, we have over an academic year seen over 50 counselling clients who need both short- and long-term emotional needs and adapt the service for each individual. This includes seeing those in crisis immediately.
I work flexibly with many staff in a school of 1,500 pupils, where counselling services are well-respected and integrated.
I have helped secure another successful contract awarded to the counselling service due to recognition of the efficacy and dedication of the team.
Residential boys’ school, all of whom are identified as SEBD and/or Statement of Special Educational Need. I have a caseload of five pupils. This was an entirely new in-house therapeutic service that I set up from scratch, working successfully since Autumn 2014.
Initially, much of this role was to educate all staff about art psychotherapy through workshops and presentations, offering case studies and interactive opportunities to discuss how the intervention can benefit potential clients, and to deepen their understanding of the psychology of young people.
This educational role is ongoing and continue to develop strong links with each of the clients teachers, that encourages an increased awareness of my role and aims to further a spirit of multi-agency team working. Since this new role was created, I have become a recognised and valued member of the school, and I now attend academic reviews with pupils and team meetings with staff.
The group work I lead three times a week at Southern Adolescent Care Services involves facilitating an open art therapy space for the residence of the houses for up to five young people per house.
This space is designed to allow young people in their care to share important issues in a group setting. It has achieved excellent retention rates with participants during my three years there.
This type of intervention had not been introduced to the organisation before my arrival, and it led to it being a popular and well-received service that in many cases for some participants broke down the stigma of therapy due to the creative way art psychotherapy uses the art-making process to enable young people to talk about the stuff that matters to them in a group environment.
In addition to young people being the primary users of this facility, support staff are also invited to join informally and as a consequence has fostered deeper and more positive relationships between staff and young people.