Counselling and Support
| Helen Newman Academy Counsellor |
I have been working in Harefield since 2003 - the days of John Penrose. When I'm not at The Academy I work for London Borough of Hillingdon, counselling pupils at risk of exclusion and as a counsellor in other schools in Hillingdon and Slough. I also work with adults in Brent counselling for work and personal-related issues.
Students come and see me for counselling in The Academy for a variety of reasons. Some might be having problems with friends, some are going through diffficult times at home and some might not even know what the problem is, just that they're feeling unhappy. I try and understand what's going on for each young person by listening carefully and supporting their feelings. It's important that the 'client' in counselling can feel safe, not judged and listened to in a completely confidential environment. Part of my job is to equip students with the tools to understand their feelings and make better decisions. The job of the young person in counselling is to make me redundant so they no longer need to come for counselling! Sometimes students don't know what to expect from counselling and might worry that people might think you have to be 'mad' to see the counsellor but I always feel that for someone to be honest enough to admit there's a problem and to seek help (young or old) is a brave decision and a sign of sanity rather than insanity. I enjoy this job as it's great to see people change their lives, make better decisions for themselves and grow in confidence.
Outside of work, some might say I live to travel and in another life maybe I'll be a travel agent, as I love putting together interesting holidays in different places. I often travel to Spain as I'm attempting to learn the language before I die. I'm planning on signing up for an A-Level in Spanish this year to help me. I'm also learning salsa, though I don't think I'll become a champion in this field but it's good fun and keeps me out of trouble-I'd like to combine salsa and Spanish in Cuba for next year's holiday if I can. I'm quite passionate about keeping fit (in fun ways) because it's vital for physical and mental health. Sometimes I run workshops for students to help understand the positive knock on effects of exercise on the body-not just improving physical health but how the release of 'happy hormones' can also improve our self esteem and confidence.
At home, I have a 17 year old son, Kai, who's currently taking his A-Levels. He's very sporty as well as being a big Watford supporter like many of the other season ticket holders in my family which means I sometimes go along to games.
The Harefield Academy has genuinely always been one of the most enjoyable schools I've worked in due to its friendliness and welcoming environment, both in terms of students and staff.