The Child and Family Counselling Service (CFCS)
Parents are now able to access direct support for their child by referring them into the safe hands of our Child and Family Counselling Team.
The Child and Family Counselling Service provides therapy to children, young people and families. We support many different issues such as self-harm, identity, anxiety, bullying, bereavement, parental separation and family issues or conflict. We offer support to children, young people and parents through talking, play and art therapy.
We have a team of highly experienced Counsellors, Specialist Child and Adolescent Counsellors and Play Therapists available within the counselling team who work in our specially adapted therapy rooms in our premises in Billericay High Street.
The pathway is overseen by Donna Booth, who is an experienced counsellor herself. Donna and the team are both passionate about and dedicated to the wellbeing of children and young people. The team has achieved very positive and reparative outcomes for children and families.
What can we expect?
It is often helpful for parents to know what they and their child can expect once they have contacted us for support. We have compiled a little timeline to help you understand how this will work.
· Enquiry & Consultation: Within three days of receiving an enquiry, we arrange a 10 - 30 minute call to discuss the child’s needs and how we can offer support.
· Availability: We email parents/carers with available session slots.
· Initial Assessment: Once a time is agreed, an assessment is conducted, typically with just the parents/carers. During this session we discuss the child’s needs (presenting issues, early development, past trauma, etc.). It also allows parents to meet the therapist and see the space their child will be using.
· Therapy Begins: Therapy sessions begin the following week, or, in some cases, parental therapy may be recommended first.
· Ongoing Review: The therapist regularly checks in with parents/carers to assess progress and determine when therapy should end.
· Ending: The ending session is an important part of therapy. It provides a space for the child or young person to reflect on their therapy journey and think about how they can apply what they’ve learned in the future.
· Costing: There is a charge for each session, however, we do have a number of clients who receive financial support for this via their schools or parishes.
Who do we contact?
If you are worried about your child and would like to talk to us further, please email Donna who will be pleased to help.
Take a moment to read about the experiences two of our parents have shared with us:
I had contacted a number of professional services to assist me in helping my daughter. At the suggestion of my daughter's school a referral was made to BCCS and it was then that I met one of their counsellors. After months of unanswered questions and "hitting brick walls" I finally had answers, structure and a profound understanding of how a little girl's mind works.
For me, there has been nothing so worrying as watching your child struggle and the BCCS counsellor's help has enabled me to help her, for which I will be forever grateful.
I don't doubt how much you have helped him find ways to deal with his feelings and what is really fantastic is that somehow talking to you has made him understand that it's good to talk about one's feelings and he seems a lot more open now.