Counselling team helps youngsters (From Wiltshire Times)

Counselling team helps youngsters

11:00am Saturday 6th October 2012 in News

A counselling team made talking to grieving teenagers at St Laurence School its first priority when it arrived at the school on Tuesday.

Carolyn Godfrey, Wiltshire Council’s director of children’s services, said an educational psychologist and a senior manager met St Laurence headteacher James Colquhoun on Tuesday, after he rang the department to tell them of Harvey Johns’ death “Our priority was to work quickly and jointly with the staff at St Laurence and to begin talking to the young people at the school,” she said.

“In a situation like this it is all about seeing what the atmosphere is like and being responsive to the students’ needs.

“We have been careful not to force anyone into talking if they do not want to, many of the students have been talking to one another and supporting each other. I think what young people are really good at is peer support.”

She said the counsellors have been talking to pupils in small groups and will remain at the school as long as they are needed.

“It is very sad and we will do all we can to support the school,” said Mrs Godfrey. “Our thoughts are with Harvey’s family and friends.”