A thematic analysis of young people's experience of counselling in five secondary schools in the UK

Abstract

Aim: To investigate young people's views on the effects of school-based counselling, and what they found helpful and unhelpful. Method: Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted and thematically analysed. Findings: Participants expressed predominantly positive views of school-based counselling with changes in three main domains: emotional, interpersonal and behavioural. Participants viewed these changes as having had an important effect on their lives. The most commonly cited helpful aspects of counselling were related to talking or getting things out, and counsellor qualities. Conclusions: School-based counselling is viewed positively by those who have experienced it, and appears to be an appropriate and valuable intervention for young people.

Keywords:

• counselling in schools
• young people
• therapeutic change
• clients' experiences
• thematic analysis
• qualitative

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the young people who took part in this study and to the school staff who supported the research. Special thanks to Professor Robert Elliott for allowing the Client Change Interview to be adapted for this study. Thanks also to the following people for their input into the adapting and administering of the Client Change Interviews: Karen Cromarty, Katherine McArthur, Sue Pattison, Kaye Richards, and Nancy Rowland.

Notes

Rosemarie Lynass was responsible for analysing the data and writing this report. Rosemarie worked under the supervision of Mick Cooper who also helped with the design of the study, and acted as the Chief Investigator for the pilot randomised clinical trial from which this data was derived. Olga Pykhtina contributed to the design and implementation of the study.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rosemarie Lynass

Rosemarie Lynass has previously trained as a person-centred counsellor and is currently undertaking further training as a counselling psychologist. Rosemarie is also a lecturer in psychology at Glasgow Caledonian University

Olga Pykhtina

Olga Pykhtina is a doctoral student at Newcastle University. Olga's PhD explores ‘Possibilities of digital technology application into child play therapy’

Mick Cooper

Mick Cooper is a professor of counselling at the University of Strathclyde, and co-director of the Doctorate in Counselling Psychology. Mick has authored a range of papers and reports on school-based humanistic counselling; as well as books and articles on person-centred, existential and pluralistic approaches to therapy