How do secondary school counsellors work with other professionals?

Abstract

Aim: This study explores how secondary school counsellors work with other professionals within and outside schools in the delivery of services. Method: Sixteen school counsellors from across the UK were interviewed, in four different focus groups – two in England (n=8) and two in Scotland (n=8). Results: The findings indicate that the professional relationships counsellors have with other colleagues have a direct influence upon the quality of the service they feel able to offer. Time spent with colleagues when setting up services was viewed as highly beneficial, as was time spent building relationships and connections with colleagues within the school and from external agencies and organisations, as well as having a senior member of staff to liaise with. It is apparent that attending to relationships outside of the counselling room may influence the positive outcomes for the counselling service and its clients generally. Conclusions: Implications of these findings may influence the ways in which counsellors are employed by commissioners, and how counsellors use their time allocation in schools to ensure that effective services are both achieved and maintained.

Keywords:

• Counselling service delivery
• school counselling
• secondary schools
• young people

Acknowledgements

This project was funded by a Children's Workforce Development Council Practitioner-Led Research Grant and we would like to thank CWDC, and in particular Dr Janet Seden (the CWDC project mentor) for their support with this project. We would like to also thank the following people from the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), Nancy Rowland, Stella Nichols and Pam Ludlow, and also the executive members of BACP's Counselling Children and Young People Division. And finally, of course, thanks to the counsellors who offered their valuable time to take part in the study.