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STEPS Childrens Counselling Service
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Play therapy, childrens counselling service....
In 2005 we launched “Steps” our Children’s Counselling Service. Our vision being that if we can respond positively to children at the point of crisis we believe that we can make an impact on the future mental health of children and young people:

Winnicott wrote, “If we could only learn to respond effectively to children at the crises points in their lives which brings them to us, and at subsequent crises points which are part of growth, we might save many of them becoming clients in one capacity or another for the rest of their lives”.
(Winnicott, 1984, In Touch with Children, British Agencies for Adoption and Fostering).

We have an experienced team of volunteer counsellors who are qualified or in the advanced stages of training. All counsellors adhere to the BACP Ethical Framework for Good Practice in Counselling and Psychotherapy and are subject to the professional conduct procedure therein.

Our Steps counsellors are qualified to diploma level and have undergone specific training in the use of counselling and therapeutic play with children.

Childrens counsellingWe recognise that children & young people sometimes experience emotional difficulties for a number of reasons. It may be due to a change in circumstances such as separation, divorce, bereavement, illness, abuse, low self esteem, lack of confidence, domestic violence, problems at school or at home.

Our aim is to enable each child or young person to become clearer about what is happening to them and to provide a safe space to understand the events in their lives.

To assist them to learn different ways of expressing themselves that hopefully will be less destructive to themselves and those around them.

Counselling for ChildrenChildren who come for counselling are often experiencing a wide range of difficulties. Some of these might include:
-Self harming
-Sad and hopeless feelings for no apparent reason
-Anger or over-reaction
-Feeling worthless and guilty
-Anxiety and or feeling overly worried
-Being constantly concerned about parent or caretaker
-Feeling frightened that his or her mind is playing tricks
-Decline in relationships at school
-Losing interest in every day play
-Poor concentration
-Persistent nightmares
-Behavioural problems at home and/or at school

Childrens therapy serviceSteps counsellors use a combination of approaches, e.g. Art, Therapeutic Play, Puppets, Storytelling, and Sand Play Therapy.

For an introduction to our counselling services and its other locations please click here, or scroll down for contact details and a location map for STEPS.

STEPS Childrens Counselling Service
Contact details:
Address 260 Desborough Road
High Wycombe
Buckinghamshire
HP11 2QR		 Phone number 01494 463364
Email address wcs@bucksmind.org.uk Fax number 01494 463364

Opening times:
Mon, Tues & Thurs 9am - 1pm or 4.30pm - 8.30pm.
Click here for maps, directions and car parks.
Back to the introduction to counselling services at Bucks Mind.

What if you need to see someone immediately?

If you feel very distressed and think that it would help to talk to a counsellor without having to wait for an initial appointment, it may be possible to arrange an interim ‘crisis’ appointment. We will also make sure you are aware of other possible sources of help.

What happens next?

After an initial appointment to give both client and ourselves the opportunity to meet and explore the client’s aims and expectations from counselling, an ongoing appointment will be offered at a mutually convenient time for weekly counselling sessions.

Related pages:

Telephone helplines (eg. Sane, Samaritans).
The Bucks Mental Health Guide - A directory of local services.
The Knowledge Bank - Links to self help leaflets, articles and information.
The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy		  
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© Buckinghamshire Mind

Buckinghamshire Mind is a registered charity (1103063), a company limited by guarantee (5000185), and is affiliated to Mind. As a member of BACP we are bound by its ethical framework for good practice in counselling and psychotherapy, and subject to the professional conduct procedure therein.