Counsellors

It is a bit confusing that “Councillors” and “Counsellors” sound so similar and the spelling is also quite similar.  However they do totally different jobs!

A “counsellor” is someone who is trained to listen to people, to help people talk about their feelings and about their lives.  They may also have a special area that they know a lot about, like drugs or contraception.  Some counsellors mainly listen and some give advice.

You can find counsellors working for schools, in Health Centres, Youth Centres and so on.  Many young people in care find it really helpful to speak to a counsellor about things in their lives, and sometimes it can feel brilliant to have someone to talk to who does not work for Children, Schools and Family.  Counsellors do not have to write everything down like in a Children’s Home.  (See sections on “Child Protection” and “Confidentiality”). 

Speaking to a Counsellor is different to being referred to The Child and Adolescent Mental Health service (see section).

Lots of people choose to talk to a counsellor at some point in their lives.  It is a very normal way of dealing with things in life; there is nothing embarrassing about seeing a counsellor.  It does not mean you are “mad”.  In fact it is a very sensible way of dealing with difficult things.  No one can make you see a counsellor; it is entirely up to you.

There are a number of different counselling services listed under “Help Lines and Other Useful Numbers”.