Marilyn鈥檚 first session with her school counsellor came on a hectic day, when she was very upset.

She was 13 and in year eight at school. There was a lot going on in her life and Marilyn felt lost.

Two years on, and things are very different for the now-15 year old.

鈥淚 was in a very dark place when I started counselling and now I feel like I鈥檓 more lively and full of life.

鈥淚 feel things a lot more vibrantly now.

I'm more confident

鈥淟ife is just a lot better. I鈥檓 a lot happier and I鈥檓 able to go out and enjoy and experience things,鈥� she says reflecting on how things have changed for her over the past two years.

鈥淐ounselling has helped me cope with certain situations and with emotions that I couldn鈥檛 control before.

鈥淚鈥檓 more confident in life and in myself and in everyday situations.

鈥淟ife has just been so much easier.鈥�

Marilyn says she felt 鈥渙ut of her comfort zone鈥� when she was first referred to see her school counsellor.

Her head of year had spoken to her about going to see the counsellor, after someone who was concerned about Marilyn鈥檚 wellbeing had contacted him anonymously.

鈥淎t the time, how I felt was really affecting the stuff that I did, how I interacted with friends and family and even within myself. I felt just a bit lost, a bit puzzled with everything,鈥� she said.

鈥淲hen my head of year said I needed to see the counsellor, it was a very hectic day. I was upset. I didn鈥檛 know that I was going to be referred.

鈥淲hen it happened it was a secret that unfolded that I didn鈥檛 want anyone to know.

鈥淏ut I just thought 鈥榠f this is what I need, this is what I need.鈥�

Counsellor was welcoming

鈥淢y counsellor was very kind and very welcoming. I thought that there was going to be a good connection throughout the time period that we were going to be together.鈥�

She had regular sessions with her school counsellor 鈥� and received help through CAMHS as well.

鈥淲ith my counsellor, it was so open and laid back.

鈥淚f you were referred to a teacher or a head of year, you鈥檇 feel that teaching vibe. You鈥檇 feel like you couldn鈥檛 say something because if you bumped into them in the corridor or lesson you鈥檇 feel a bit restricted.

鈥淲ith the counsellor there鈥檚 so much of an open space and you can say whatever you want without being judged.鈥�

鈥淚 think being able to unpick your problems and sorting them out and having those strategies to help you can really impact you.

鈥淵ou can just see life so much clearer.

Find out my triggers

鈥淚 was able to find out what my triggers were and how to cope with how I felt if it got worse and know where to go to for help if anything happened in later life that I needed support with.

鈥淎fter I had the counselling, I was able to understand why I was feeling a certain way and feel more confident.鈥�

It was helpful to Marilyn that her counsellor was based in her school.

鈥淚t鈥檚 so accessible.

鈥淚f you ever needed to go there quickly and if you had a problem that needed to be sorted out quickly you could just go. It鈥檚 easy access.鈥�

Marilyn was also seen by the NHS鈥檚 Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), and it was her school counsellor who helped her in the run up to this after a friend had a negative experience with the NHS service.

Her counsellor helped her not to be swayed by her friend鈥檚 experience.

鈥淐AMHS helped me cope with some bigger things, some more serious things,鈥� said Mariyn.

鈥淚 had a good connection with my worker. She had some very good advice which I still use today. As soon as I got discharged I thought this was actually helpful. Some of the stuff we did that focussed on how I was feeling inside and how it affected by daily life, friendships and relationships was really beneficial.鈥�

Two years after her first appointment with the school counsellor, she has now been discharged.

Fresh start

And she鈥檚 positive about the future.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a new era,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 fresh start.鈥�

She also wants people to know what a massive impact counselling can have on their lives.

鈥淓veryone should have someone they can go to and talk to like this, in a safe environment,鈥� she said.

鈥淚 would definitely recommend going to counselling. It鈥檚 so beneficial. Even if it鈥檚 just for a small problem.

鈥淐ounselling can sometimes sound really big and scary. But it鈥檚 not something that you should be ashamed of. It should be something that鈥檚 celebrated and something that is available to everyone and anyone.鈥�

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