The Cardiff Schools Based Counselling Service (CSBCS) is a team of qualified counsellors with extensive experience supporting young people. All our counsellors are registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), which means we follow high professional standards in our work.
What we do
We offer one-to-one counselling for children and young people aged 9 to 18. Our service is available in every secondary school in Cardiff, and we also support pupils in Years 5 and 6 of primary school.
Counselling provides a safe, private space where young people can talk openly about anything that is on their mind. We listen without judgement or advice, helping them understand their thoughts and feelings and find their own solutions.
What we help with
We support young people with a wide range of issues, including:
- managing strong emotions,
- family problems,
- school-related worries,
- friendships and relationships,
- self-worth and identity,
- sexuality and gender,
- trauma,
- coping strategies (for example self-harm or substance use), and
- loss and bereavement.
We use different tools and techniques tailored to each young person's needs.
How counselling works
- Sessions take place in school, in a private room
- Each session lasts about 50 minutes
- Sessions are held weekly during the school day
- A typical block of counselling includes 6 sessions
Please note, counselling is not an emergency service. If a young person is in crisis, call 999 or go to A and E.
Secondary school support
Every secondary school in Cardiff has a named counsellor.
Counsellors receive referrals from children and young people directly via a postcard placed in a post-box at school, or from school staff via a referral form.
If parents wish to make a referral they should speak to a member of school staff.
The young person must give consent before a referral is made. Counselling can be accessed by children and young people under the age of 16 who are considered to be mature enough to understand the nature of counselling, its risks benefits and alternatives.
After a referral
We have a waiting list for each school and prioritise referrals by the date we receive them. The young person will be invited to meet with a counsellor within 2 months to talk about what they need. Together, they will agree on the support that is right for them and be invited for counselling when a space become available.
Primary school support
In primary schools, counselling can be accessed by speaking to a member of school staff who can make a referral.
Parental consent is required for counselling to be offered to child in primary school.
After a referral
We have a primary aged waiting list and prioritise referrals by the date we receive them. Within a period of approximately 12 weeks, a counsellor will contact the family to arrange a conversation with the child and their parent to understand how they can help.
