Counselling
Counselling
Most of us will from time to time experience circumstances or events that challenge our emotional health. Although children & young people are resilient sometimes they may need some help to restore a happy life balance.
A professional counsellor is an expert at helping people explore complex issues & consider ways to improve their life. The counsellor is independent & problems can be shared in a safe non-judgemental environment.
Does counselling really work?
For four out of five who come to our service it really does make a difference. Where someone opens up to the counsellor and really wants things to change, then a couple of months of counselling can lead to them feeling better about themselves, their life and relationships.
We do assessments at the start and end of counselling. These show a real improvement in the mental and emotional health of young people by the end of counselling. The graph below shows the before and after assessment averages for 250 young people in 2010/11.
Reported improvements
We ask young people to tell us what has improved. Here's what they say has changed:
Control of temper;
Satisfaction from relationships;
Optimism for the future;
Attendance & performance at school/college work;
Doing positive things & getting out;
Looking after oneself, keeping clean & healthy;
We also know from national research that early, high quality intervention reduces risks of adult mental health problems, and about half of adults receiving treatment for mental ill health had some problems at age 15.
Our counsellors
Our counsellors are all diploma qualified, BACP (British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy) registered, CRB (Criminal Record Bureau) checked & very experienced at helping young people improve their lives. We have male and female counsellors and can offer appointments across Kirklees, including evenings.
Counsellors are managed and supported by Northorpe Hall Child & Family Trust to ensure high standards, good practice and the safety of children and young people.
How do I access the service?
Anyone can refer. You can either fill in the referral form now, or contact us to discuss it.
We receive referrals from GPs, schools, social workers & health service professionals, who report high levels of satisfaction with our service. We have had contracts to deliver counselling services for over ten years from Kirklees Council and Kirklees PCT.
Is it free?
We receive hundreds of referrals every year. Through fundraising and contracts with local public services we are able to offer the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and at risk young people free counselling sessions. However, there are limited sessions available on a free basis.
A session of around 50 minutes with an experienced, qualified, effective counsellor costs £45. There are discounts for buying multiple sessions.
For further information, or to discuss your needs, please Contact us.
What do people say about the Northorpe Hall counselling service?
“My daughters have been to Northorpe Hall for counselling, the counsellors and staff there are absolutely remarkable and without them I truly don’t know how we as a family would have coped. My daughters were broken and the counsellors at Northorpe Hall mended them.”
“If I didn't have this service I would be hopeless and unhappy with my life. They' ve helped me to see that there is more to life than what I thought there was. I like this place, the people that I have met over the past week have been amazing to me. They don't care if you want to have a cry and they really don't mind if you want to laugh, they are there.”
“Northorpe hall really turned my life around, I went from being a self conscious pessimist to a confident optimist. They helped me to stop self harming and they helped me to deal with my emotions in more productive ways.”
“I have referred victims of youth crime to this service in the past. One particular young person was in a very vulnerable state and was offered something that as a practitioner I could not give - counselling advice. She found the service really boosted her confidence and was able to move on from what had happened.”
“Last summer my daughter was desperate and cutting herself and I was at my wits end her counsellor at Northorpe Hall helped her to stop. I don’t know where we would be without the help she gave us.”
“I have referred several young people to Northorpe Hall & each one has been an outstanding success! Their lives have been transformed through this service & the feedback from their families has only been of a positive nature.”
“I really benefitted from the counselling service that I received from Northorpe Hall. I think that by taking away the opportunity for people to talk through their problems, and essentially get over, or come to terms with what has happened.”
“When I was 10/11, I spent a few sessions here that helped incredibly with my parents’ separation; it also helped bring some issues between the two of them which helped towards the court cases.”
“I’ve benefited a lot from counselling at Northorpe Hall, even though I only had ten sessions it’s made me be able to move on in life.”
“Our daughter attended counselling at Northorpe Hall because of problems she was having at school. Without a doubt the counselling was extremely beneficial and helped our daughter to feel better about herself and to be able to deal with difficult situations. Her counselling ended some six months ago. Since that time, when faced with difficult situations, she is able to look back at what she talked about during the sessions to help her decide how to deal with difficulties she faces along with her feelings linked to these. Without the counselling we are certain that our daughter would have really struggled to attend school.”
“Since my daughter had anger management at Northorpe our lives have been so much better. We talk to each instead of shouting and her schoolwork has improved tremendously, as has her attitude towards school.”
“Northorpe Hall services helped my son in 2010 when he was having difficulties surrounding the death of his father. The counselling service is excellent. My son regularly tells me that the counselling helped him to move on and we are both in a better place now.”
“I came to Northorpe Hall back in my younger days. GREAT PLACE. Have many good memories of Northorpe Hall which changed my life today.”
“My best friend goes to Northorpe and it has saved her life she thought she couldn’t go on without her mother but this has brought her back from the brink.”
Source: http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/youthcounsellingnorthorpe/signatures
If you would like to make a referral for counselling, please download our referral form or contact us.
Counselling for parents
Parents, and those in parenting roles such as foster carers, sometimes need someone to talk to in confidence about the joys and challenges of parenting, the strong emotions and how they affect their behaviour at home.
Counselling can help parents to reflect and gain a better understanding of their patterns, and identify areas of potential change.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions about counselling
What is counselling?
Counselling is talking to someone who will listen to anything you have to say. They will be sympathetic and supportive.
What will happen if I contact the service?
You tell us about yourself and why you want counselling. If you are requesting free counselling we will consider this and let you know whether it is possible. At your first appointment you will meet your counsellor who will show you around and answer any questions you have, and explain in detail how counselling might work for you. If you want to, you can book in to see the counsellor regularly - usually for six weeks.
What are the kinds of things young people talk about?
Some of the things young people want to talk about are feeling lonely or unloved, worries about their future, problems about school, bullying, drugs, pregnancy, illness, physical and sexual abuse, running away and concerns about parents, brothers, sisters and friends. You can talk about anything that's on your mind, and the counsellor may help you talk by using art, models or pictures.
Will the counsellor tell anyone what we talk about?
Not unless you ask us to, or we believe that you or someone is in danger. The service is confidential but we would tell someone else if you said you were hurting yourself or someone was hurting you. You will always be informed if the counsellor needs to share information for this reason.
Can I choose who I see, and where and when I see them?
Yes. We can offer counselling in Huddersfield, Dewsbury and here at Northorpe Hall in Mirfield. We have daytime and evening appointments. We have both female and male counsellors and also a female Muslim counsellor.
Can parents get counselling, too?
Yes, of course. They would normally see a different counsellor to their child, unless they want to talk about some difficult things together.
OK, what do I do next?
We accept referrals for the counselling service over the phone Monday-Thursday between 10.00am-4.00pm, just call 01924 492183 to make a referral.
