Interview - with Hazel Lamb, School Counselling

My first interview is with Hazel Lamb who organises the School Counselling work. Hazel could you tell me what your job involves?
I match counsellors, art and play therapists with schools who want to provide a service to their children. I arrange support for our counsellors, providing them with training that they need and giving them chances to meet each other and share ideas.

How long has the Catholic Children's Society been involved in School Counselling?
It started in 1995 and since then we have helped around 1500 young people. We are working with 28 primary and secondary schools and last year over 250 children had counselling. We help boys and girls from 4 years old up to 19.

What type of things do children talk about in counselling?
Whatever is worrying them - mainly problems with their family, school or how they feel about themselves. The most common problem is about parents separating. More recently our counsellors are seeing more children from other countries which they have had to leave due to difficulties. These children are often separated from their families and their homes.

What methods are used when a child attends counselling?
For younger children, it is more about painting, playing or making things to help show how they are feeling. Older children too sometimes find it easier to draw than speak. It can take a while to be able to trust a counsellor enough to want to speak to them and know what they say isn't going to be passed on to anyone else. Counsellors always listen carefully and don't judge or tell a child what to do. We are now working with families more, helping them to be happier together.

What are your hopes for the future?
I would love for each school in the country to have a counsellor available and for every child to be able to see a counsellor, if they want to.

What advice would you give to a child who may have a problem?
It is very important that they are able to talk to someone about how they are feeling. This might be a parent, a teacher, a school counsellor or another adult they trust. They could also call Child Line on 0800 11 11.

Thank you Hazel for telling me more about the School Counselling Service. If anyone would like to ask a question about the School Counselling Service, then send it to me and I will get Hazel to answer it for you.