We can help you make sense of what you’re going through and support you with the difficulties you’re experiencing. You can talk about whatever you like to a counsellor; they will not tell you what to do, judge, or criticise you. Your counsellor will not make decisions for you or force you to talk about anything that you don’t want to.
A counselling session usually involves talking with your counsellor but sometimes it may be hard to talk. Your counsellor will have various resources and activities and might suggest some creative activities to do together to help you, like drawing or playing a game.
In Person
At School
Online
Over the Phone
In-person counselling is available between 4 and 9pm Monday – Friday at our house in Central Reading, online (via Zoom) and over the phone between at various times and days across the week.
Our house in Central Reading is wheelchair friendly and provides a step-free access option at the rear.
Many young people want between 10 and 20 weeks of counselling and your counsellor will work with you to decide how many sessions you feel you need.
The sessions will be on the same day, at the same time, with the same counsellor each week. Sessions last up to 50 minutes.
You’ll see the same counsellor, on the same day and time each week. Having this stable routine and trusting relationship can be really helpful if other areas of your life are feeling difficult.
You can talk to your counsellor about whatever you want during your counselling. No issue is too big or too small, and you will not be judged on what you say or be pressurised into talking about anything that you don’t want to.
All No5 counsellors are members of a professional regulatory body who are fully qualified, or in their final years of a recognised professional qualification. See our training page.
It is a professional requirement that counsellors are regularly supervised, and the purpose of supervision is to ensure the counsellor is working ethically and safely with you, and for their development and support. During supervision your name and personal details will not be shared with the supervisor, and this takes place separately from counselling sessions.
Counsellors who are in their final stages of training and those completing Continuous Professional Development (CPD) may ask your permission to record a session, or use some details in case studies. When this happens no names or any other personal details that could identify you are included.
An important aspect of counselling is that it is confidential – or private. This means that nothing you say to your counsellor will be repeated to anyone outside No5, including family, teachers or doctors. No one will answer any questions, or talk about, your counselling without your permission.
No5 is an organisational member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and therefore follows their Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions to guide best practice, in particular around confidentiality and safeguarding for young people. Please click here for more details.
No5 takes confidentiality very seriously, and we also have a duty to ensure your safety. If we believed you or another vulnerable person was at serious risk of harm, we may need to break confidentiality. This may mean involving someone else who could help keep you, or them, safe. Counsellors always try to discuss this with you first and work with you to come up with a plan. See our safeguarding policy.
There may be things that you do not feel comfortable discussing with people close to you, but you can talk about anything you need to with your counsellor in a neutral space, away from the pressures you might be facing.
So even if you’re unsure about coming to counselling, why not give it a try – it might help.
