Counselling services at Dixons Sixth Form

If students are struggling with their mental health or any other past or present issues, support is available within our college. Below you'll find a description of the counselling and therapy services available at Dixons Sixth Form.

What is counselling/therapy?

Therapy provides a safe and confidential space for you to talk to a trained professional about your issues and concerns. Your therapist will help you explore your thoughts, feelings and behaviours so you can develop a better understanding of yourself and of others. Your college therapists are members of the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) and work within its Ethical Framework.

What will a counsellor do for me?

• A counsellor will help you find your own solutions – whether that’s making effective changes in your life or finding ways of coping with your problems.

• They will always work within their sphere of competence (qualifications, training and experience). Where circumstances arise that taken them beyond this, they will work with you to engage additional support alongside what they can offer.

• They will agree a contract with you around working within healthy boundaries during therapy. This will include the parameters of confidentiality.

• Your therapist will be impartial yet understanding.

• They will clearly explain the nature of confidentiality in the work you do with them and the limitations of that within the law.

• They will listen to you without judgment and help you explore your thoughts and emotions. They may offer information, but, they will not tell you what you should think or do.

• They will not give you direct advice and tell you what to do or prescribe medication.

• They will not break the confidentiality agreement you have made together.

What happens during a counselling session?

• Counselling can take different forms depending on your needs and what type of therapy may be suitable. The College Counsellor will explain the type of therapy they practice and what they can and cannot offer to you.

• During a session, your Counsellor may take you through specific exercises designed to help with your problem, or you might have more general discussions about how you're feeling. What you talk about will vary depend on what you want help with and the therapist’s approach.

It could include:

• your relationships (familial, friendship, faith and community based, and/or romantic and intimate)

• your childhood

• your feelings, emotions or thoughts

• your behaviours

• past and present life events

• situations you find particularly challenging and difficult

What can we offer?

• We have both male and female qualified counsellors, who students can be referred to via their progress tutor

• Self referral process coming soon

• The counsellors can help students to work through issues such as poor mental health, relationships and difficult life events over a number of weekly sessions

What should you expect from counselling?

• At your appointmentt, you'll be encouraged to talk about your feelings and emotions with a trained counsellor, who'll listen and support you without judging or criticising.

• The counsellor can help you gain a better understanding of your feelings and thought processes, and find your own solutions to problems (but they will not usually give advice or tell you what to do).

• It can take a number of sessions before you start to see progress, but you should gradually start to feel better with the help and support of your therapist.

In addition, the pastoral team can also refer students to external and online services such as:

• Mind in Bradford

• Kooth

• MyWellbeing IAPT Service

Speak with your progress tutor if you would like any further support or guidance with mental health.