Young People's Counselling (12 to 21)

Service Status: OPEN to new referrals

About the service

While it can be helpful to talk to other people in your life about how you feel, it can sometimes feel easier to talk to somebody else. Counselling is when you talk confidentially to a trained person about something that is on your mind or is a problem to you. A counsellor will listen to what you say, and will support you to make sense about feelings, thoughts, behaviours, and events in your life.

At York Mind young people aged between 12 and 21 can access up to six sessions of counselling, free of charge. These are held weekly, same day and time, for about an hour, either in-person at our premises at Highcliffe Court (in the suburb of Clifton) or can be accessed by telephone or videocall.

How can this help me?

Counselling can help with lots of different things. You may have problems at home or with friends. You might be having issues at your place of learning or work. You may be feeling depressed, anxious or confused, or thinking about hurting yourself.

If something is important to you or is making you unhappy, then it is a good reason to come to counselling.

Your counsellor won't tell you what to do, or judge you, but will support you to better understand and express what is going on for you. Your counsellor might help you look at and respond to things differently, build on how you see yourself, and encourage you to explore new ways of dealing with things.

Who can access?

Young People who are:

• aged between 12-21 (those aged 18-21 also have the choice of Adult Counselling)
• a resident within a City of York Council ward, or are under the care of the City of York Council (CYC), or are a care leaver with a CYC Pathway Plan
• not at university in York (because universities have their own counselling provision)

Please note York Mind does not offer a crisis service. If you need urgent help then please click here.

Cost

York Mind is a non-profit making charity funded through grants, service contracts, and by contributions received from clients. There is no charge for our Young People's Counselling Service, which is fully funded by City of York Council.

Referring In

To refer in (make an initial counselling appointment), simply complete our online referral form (or download the Word Version and send to ypcounselling@yorkmind.org.uk). We aim to be in touch within two weeks of receiving your referral.

We do not accept agency (third-party) referrals into this service. We welcome agencies (such as schools, charities, and others) supporting young people in completing a referral, but the primary contact details must be for the young person themself. The young person must understand what the service entails and consent to the process.

What will Happen Next?

If you feel that counselling is something that will be helpful to you, once you have submitted your self-referral you will be placed on our waiting list. You will be offered a counselling start date once a session becomes available.

A member of the counselling team will contact you to arrange an initial first contact session. This will offer an opportunity to share a little bit more about your situation, explore what counselling is, and how it may be able to help you. First contact sessions can take place at York Mind's counselling rooms at Highcliffe Court, or via video call, or via telephone.

After the first contact session, if you and your counsellor agree that counselling is right for you, you can have up to six sessions of counselling, normally weekly, for about an hour. Sessions happen on weekday mornings, afternoons, or Wednesday evenings.

Usually counselling happens privately between you and a counsellor. If you would like to be accompanied in the first contact session by a parent, carer, or friend, you can discuss this with your counsellor.

Contact Information

If you want to find out more you can:

• contact a member of the York Mind young people's counselling team by ringing 01904 643364 - Option 1.
• email ypcounselling@yorkmind.org.uk

Additional Information

Click here for more information about the range of Young People’s services at York Mind