8:16 Counselling

This is for all those who work with children and young people who will be leaving school this week or next. I know in my school counselling, I have had to fight back the tears a few times this week as I've had my final sessions and watched pupils leave for the next stage in their lives. Well done to the school staff out there - you do an amazing job.

A challenging programme on Smartphones & their influence on children & young people. https://www.bbc.co.uk/…/…/panorama-sm artphones-the-dark-side

I came across this website the other day. It's packed with handy advice & information for parents wanting to understand and help manage their childrens' gaming. Two things I've especially come across is the section on Parental Controls that shows you how to set controls on each different device and a blog post about why Fortnite is so popular right now. Happy browsing! http://www.askaboutgames.com

13 Reasons Why is returning to our screens. Samaritans have put together some useful guidance for schools and the page also contains a link for Parents of young people who may be watching the series. https://www.samaritans.org/…/responding -students-discussing…

This post is shared with permission. Tonight, I heard of yet another instance of what I hear of week in week out. Tonight, probably as you read this, a young person is being discharged, sent home from hospital by CAMHS. They have tried to take their own life three times in one week. But CAMHS are, for the third time in a week, sending them home with out any further help or support. They are deemed "well." This isn't an isolated example. It's happening up and down our country and is being faced by children, young people and families. This is the reality of our Mental Health Service and people deserve so much better than this. Feel free to share - perhaps someone, somewhere might listen...

To all those starting their exams this week : just do your best; it's all you can do. It takes more than a few pieces of paper to define your life.

This is so true. Airing pain or difficulties doesn't solve them, but in the right environment, their power can be dissolved.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2tzR3QVfipQ I watched the first episode of this (on Crime & Investigation) last night. Although, as it’s American, there are some differences to the UK, it’s well worth a watch to get some insight into what life in secondary school/ sixth form is really like.

People often ask me how I came up with the name “8:16.” Although I would like to take the credit, the idea came from a very good friend of mine -John Speddings. John encouraged me to set up this counselling service just for children and young people. I wanted a name for it that wasn’t all about me, that wouldn’t say “therapy” all over it and so would hopefully make it easier for a young person to walk through the door. It was John who asked what ages I worked with. I said “8-...16 year olds” (although it’s a bit wider now) and John said, “why not just call it 8:16 then?”
The moment he said it I knew it was right.it was a stroke of genius (not that I would admit that to him!)
John left this world yesterday for a far better place. Many things, including 8:16, are proof that John’s legacy lives on. Although those of us left behind are left with a huge gap, the work of 8:16 is testimony that he lives on and he will never be forgotten.
Thanks John. Rest in Peace
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Preparing to do a lecture at SHU in Counselling on Schools.....

No matter how many assemblies or presentations I do, I still get that nervous feeling just before I start. Waiting to do an assembly on the School counselling service...

Good for you George for coming through the other side. Too many people have to wait too long. I know this may seems ironic as I offer "private" counselling, but I long for the day when effective, free counselling is available to all with no waiting list http://www.bbc.co.uk/…/mental-health-i- was-offered-help-two…

Just been on BBC Radio Sheffield about counselling in schools. I got a phone call out of the blue asking me to go on and comment and the next minute I was on air. I’ll put a link up later but it was at about 9.55am if you want to find it before 😊

To any counselling colleagues out there who are members of the BACP, please do check your email and vote on the resolutions for the AGM in a few weeks time. There's some proposals in there that are really helpful and could change what is offered to people of all ages for the better e.g. people can access any therapy that is proven to be effective via the NHS - not just CBT (that is not proven to be any more effective)

This is a heart-breaking story of a teenager who, despite being predicted good grades, took his life in the shadow of GCSE exam pressure. I am increasingly concerned by the pressure children and young people are being put under. It's ok the Gov kindly putting on "Mental Health First Aid" training for 1 person per school but they may do better to look at the pressurised assessment focussed environment that they put into. These are increasingly causing the mental health problems. Rant over :-) https://planetradio.co.uk/…/morley-mum- says-gcse-pressure-…/