Counselling

The Counselling Service provides confidential, individual counselling to students aged 5-18, to help them to resolve personal difficulties and develop good emotional mental health and wellbeing, so they are engaged with their learning and can thrive both at school and beyond.

Sessions aim to offer students a safe, empathic, non-judgemental space where they may explore (at their pace) thoughts and feelings about the issues they bring, develop and draw on their own resources to overcome difficulties (or manage things that cannot be changed), build resilience, and move towards their potential.

The type of counselling provided is bespoke to the student as all therapists employed within the Trust have trained following an integrative framework, therefore can pull on a variety of theoretical knowledge and interventions suitable for the presenting issues of the student.

The Service is delivered in line with the ethical and good practice guidelines of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) as well as the BACP’s guidance for counsellors and the BTCT Counselling/Supervision Policy whilst adhering to relevant Trust policies. 

Referral Process

Helen Moore Lead Psychotherapeutic Counsellor 

Helen began her counselling training in 2008 with the advanced certificate in counselling, followed by the Higher National Diploma level 5 in psychotherapeutic counselling in 2011 then the diploma in working with children and young people and is the Lead Psychotherapeutic  Counsellor for the Bridgwater and Taunton College Trust.

As an integrative therapist, she utilises different approaches and models within a framework tailored to individual student/adults she works with.  Helen provides a non-judgemental, respectful, confidential environment where trust can be built, enabling individuals to explore and work through past traumas impacting and impeding on their current daily life.

Helen completed her advanced diploma in counselling supervision Level 7 in 2021 and is a registered member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.  This year Helen also became a TIS UK approved Supervisor for Trauma and Mental Health Informed Practitioners working across the Trust. 

With more than 25 years in an educational setting working within the SEN Team across a variety of roles, she is very much an advocate for destigmatising mental health and champions the professional training and dedication of the Trust counselling team, who provide a psychotherapeutic counselling service to both students and staff across all schools within the Trust. 

Debbie Welch – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Debbie completed her Level 4 advanced diploma in integrative counselling in 2009 which included cbt and mindfulness. This was followed by her Level 3 counselling children and young people qualification.

Post qualifying, she was a self-employed holistic therapist  and is highly qualified in both Shabashi and Tai Chi Bang which she previously offered to adults in the community.

Debbie supported young adults to overcome barriers to learning prior to March 2022 when she began working for the Trust. Debbie offers psychotherapeutic counselling to students and is passionate about the person centred relational aspects which enables the calm space to develop the therapeutic alliance forming the foundation of her therapeutic process with clients. She is a registered member of the BACP.

Leah Griffiths – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Leah completed her foundation degree in integrative counselling in 2016. She then went on to complete a level 6 post graduate certificate in CBT followed by a level 7 post graduate diploma in working with children and young people.

Prior to commencing working for the Trust in Feb 2022 she worked in both educational and NHS settings offering therapy to children and young people since qualifying. Leah also has experience of working within a drug and alcohol agency working with families and young people . She is enthusiastic about providing psychotherapeutic counselling to students aged 5-18 across the Trust.

In 2023 she completed her level 7 Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision. Leah is passionate about using creative processes that can help students to explore and communicate issues, feelings and emotions in a therapeutic way.   She is a registered member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapy.

Marianne Hendry – Psychotherapeutic Counsellor

Marianne qualified in Hypnotherapy and Counselling skills in 2015 then went on to gain an Advanced Diploma in Psychotherapeutic Counselling in 2018.  Whilst on placement with Place2Be in a primary school in Cardiff she achieved her level 4 Certificate in Counselling Children.  Before joining Brymore Academy in 2019 she worked on behalf of the charity ‘In Charley’s Memory’ supporting children. She is passionate about bespoke therapy utilising the integrative process when offering therapy with the young people she works with.

Marianne worked in schools across Somerset with the NSPCC before training as a counsellor.

In 2023 she completed her Advanced Diploma in Counselling Supervision Level 7.   She is a registered member of the BACP.