Currently the-exchange works with schools throughout the UK and in the last school year, the-exchange received  and worked with over 1,300 referrals for face-to-face counselling for children and young people. We have worked with these referrals largely in one-to-one counselling but also using group-work

The one-to-one counselling provided is informed by the person-centred principle of non-judgemental empathic support which is respectful and honest. Considerable research over many years has proved that these conditions engender self-respect, self-confidence and self-belief. These principles are core to this service provision. The service will also draw on a broad range of other techniques and interventions which have been established as being effective and of value. In order to support people to derive value from counselling it can be important for the counsellor to work with the young person in developing their self-awareness and a language to describe their experiences and feelings. This facilitation is a delicate process of supporting the person to find their own emotional language and deciding which techniques to introduce. Relevant factors may be age, gender, level of intellectual, emotional and interpersonal development.

The use of art materials, figures, emotional cue-cards, theme cards, music, games etc are all promoted as mediums through which young people may choose to express themselves and engage in counselling. For some young people it is easier to engage in dialogue in parallel to “doing something” as this can make the discussion less intense. We are a learning organisation and our commitment to improving services means that we pay attention to contemporary research and when new evidence-based therapeutic interventions emerge which are effective with young people we ensure that staff are made aware of these new perspectives and the appropriateness of introducing them into their work. Group Work

We provide School workshops and presentations designed around themes which have emerged from our work in the schools or from requests from the schools.. Themes which we have visited recently with different programmes include:

• bereavement/transitions and change
• managing stress
• managing anger
• self-worth and positive self-image
• body image
• relationships & friendships

These programmes can be made available within schools to address issues which may be affecting the lives of young people or to promote a positive health policy. techniques