The school counselling service provides therapeutic support to children and young people who attend Stirling Council schools. The service complements the existing supports available for children and young people in our schools, and aims to promote emotional, mental, social and physical wellbeing. Counsellors offer children and young people aged between 10 and 18 years of age, who are experiencing sustained emotional distress an opportunity to explore and understand their difficulties. The service offers a confidential therapeutic relationship on the understanding that concerns of a safeguarding or child protection nature will be shared with others as necessary.
Children and young people's mental health and wellbeing is one of the key priorities for Stirling's Schools, Learning Education service and Children's Services.
Primary school counselling
We provide a counselling service to all of our Primary schools, with each counsellor supporting several primary schools. Counselling is provided for children aged between 10-12 years of age, however we have also extended the counselling service to include more therapeutic support for younger children aged between 5 and 9 years of age. Counselling support is offered on an agreed basis with parents and carers and key members of school staff who know the child well.
Secondary school counselling
Each of our Secondary schools has an allocated Counsellor who is based in the school and who offers a range of support for young people. Access to the service can be self-directed by the young person via their named pupil support teacher, or another relevant person to the young person.
School counselling in Stirling
Some of our young people in Stirling have created an animation that tells you more about the school counselling service.