Parental separation and divorce can be a confusing time for children due to the many changes taking place in the family. Children often find themselves caught between parents which can create anxiety and heighten their sadness or generate anger.
Children need help when coming to terms with their parents separation/divorce. Counselling offers your child/children time and space where they can talk confidentially to a professional counsellor. The counsellor will help them explore and make sense of their thoughts, feelings and reactions to the new situation in the knowledge they will not be criticised or judged, and be given the opportunity to develop positive self-esteem.
What happens in counselling?
We offer a time limited model of up to 12 sessions. These sessions include assessment and review meetings with the parents to discuss the counselling and their child’s progress, and 10 counselling sessions with the child. To access this service children need to be aged 4 and over.
Before counselling sessions with a child start, signed parental consent will be requested from both parents. Both parents will be informed about counselling taking place, unless under certain circumstances approved by our Safeguarding team.
Information discussed in sessions remains confidential between counsellor and child, unless the child agrees for it to be shared. This ensures a child can speak openly and express any thoughts and feelings freely. In exceptional circumstances where the counsellor has concern about child safeguarding issues pertinent information must be shared with relevant others. We do not write reports for court.
Each session lasts 50 minutes and usually take place at the same time each week. We ask you to arrive punctually as meetings and sessions cannot be extended beyond the agreed time.
Feedback
These sessions will be evaluated through the process of gaining your and your child/children’s feedback. This ensures we offer the best service possible. We also need to pass on feedback to our funders to see their grants are effective. Names and personal details are withheld.
Referring a child to the MiD Counselling Service
Parents can refer themselves by completing the referral form downloaded from the button below or telephone 020 8891 6860 and request a referral form.
Parents and counsellor will meet before their child starts counselling. Parents can meet with the counsellor separately or together. Joint parent sessions run for 50 minutes, or 25 minutes separately.
Fees
The cost for Child Counselling is currently subsidised at £10 a session. We are delighted to have received funding from BBC Children in Need, Richmond Foundation, Hampton Fund, Heathrow Community Trust, St James’s Place, The National Lottery Community Fund and other generous donors to help support the costs towards our child counselling service.
