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Pregnancy and early motherhood can bring many emotional changes. While this time can bejoyful, it can also be overwhelming and emotionally challenging. Perinatal counselling supports mums who need extra emotional care during pregnancy or after giving birth.

Family Welfare provides perinatal counselling for women who are pregnant or have recently had a baby. The service offers a confidential space to talk openly about thoughts and feelings during this important transition.

Many women experience anxiety, low mood or difficulty adjusting to the demands of motherhood. Relationship changes, lack of sleep and pressure to cope can all affect emotional wellbeing. Perinatal counselling helps women explore these feelings without judgement.

Counselling sessions are tailored to each individual and focus on emotional support, coping strategies and building confidence. Talking through concerns with a trained counsellor can help women feel supported and less alone.

Perinatal counselling works alongside NHS maternity and mental health services. For many women, early emotional support through counselling can make a significant difference to wellbeing for both mother and baby.

If pregnancy or early parenthood feels overwhelming, perinatal counselling can provide reassurance, understanding and emotional support.

Please call 01942 867 888 or email admin@familywelfare.co.uk if you require any further information.

Anger is a normal human emotion, but when it becomes difficult to manage it can have a negative impact on relationships, work, and mental wellbeing. Adult anger management counselling helps individuals understand their anger and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult situations.

Family Welfare offers adult anger management counselling through confidential one-to-one sessions. The service is free and delivered by trained counsellors who provide a supportive and non-judgemental space to explore emotions.

Counselling focuses on understanding what triggers anger and how it is expressed. For many people, anger is linked to stress, frustration, past experiences, or feeling unheard. Exploring these underlying causes helps individuals gain insight into their emotional responses.

Rather than suppressing anger, counselling supports emotional awareness and regulation. Clients learn to recognise early warning signs, manage physical reactions, and communicate feelings more calmly. Over time, this can reduce emotional intensity and improve relationships.

People who engage in anger management counselling often report feeling more in control, less reactive, and better equipped to handle stress. Counselling can support long-term emotional wellbeing and improved self-confidence.

If anger is affecting your quality of life, adult anger management counselling can be a positive step towards understanding emotions and making lasting change.

Please call 01942 867 888 or email admin@familywelfare.co.uk if you require any further information.

Schools and colleges are seeing increasing levels of emotional distress among children and young people. Anxiety, low mood, relationship difficulties and school avoidance are becoming more common, placing additional pressure on teaching staff and pastoral teams. Counselling services in schools and colleges play a vital role in supporting student wellbeing and helping young people stay engaged with education.

Family Welfare provides counselling services that are designed to fit around the needs of individual schools and colleges. Support can be delivered from half a day to several days per week, allowing leaders to scale provision in line with demand and available resources. Counselling takes place on site, giving students easy access to professional emotional support in a familiar and trusted environment.

Counsellors work with children and young people experiencing a wide range of issues including anxiety, stress, bereavement, emotional regulation difficulties, anger, relationship challenges and emotionally based school avoidance. Sessions are confidential and delivered one to one, creating a safe space where students can talk openly about their feelings.

Having counselling available in school supports early intervention. Issues can be identified and addressed before they escalate into attendance problems, behavioural concerns or the need for more specialist services. This proactive approach benefits students and also reduces pressure on teaching and pastoral staff who may not have the capacity to provide ongoing emotional support.

School based counselling supports not only emotional wellbeing but also learning and engagement. Students who feel emotionally supported are more likely to attend regularly, participate in lessons and build resilience. Counselling also complements safeguarding processes and wider wellbeing strategies already in place.

Family Welfare works alongside schools and colleges to provide a professional counselling service that strengthens pastoral provision and supports positive outcomes for students, staff and families.

Please call 01942 867 888 or email admin@familywelfare.co.uk if you require any further information.

Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards, often referred to as DoLS, are designed to protect people who lack mental capacity and are receiving care or treatment in a setting where their freedom may be restricted. Understanding DoLS can be complex for individuals, families and carers.

Family Welfare provides information, support and advocacy to help people understand what DoLS means and how it affects them or someone they care for. The service supports individuals whose liberty may be restricted in care homes or hospitals.

DoLS apply when restrictions are necessary to keep a person safe, but they must be lawful, proportionate and in the person’s best interests. Families often find the process confusing and may feel unsure about their rights or how decisions are made.

Advocacy support helps individuals and families understand assessments, authorisations and review processes. Advocates can explain what a deprivation of liberty is, why it has been applied and how to challenge or request a review if concerns arise.

Support under DoLS is about ensuring people are treated fairly and with respect. Advocacy helps make sure a person’s voice, wishes and feelings are considered wherever possible, even if they lack capacity to make certain decisions.

Family Welfare’s DoLS support service offers clear, independent guidance to help people navigate this complex area with confidence and reassurance.

Please call 01942 867 888 or email admin@familywelfare.co.uk if you require any further information.

Anger is a normal emotion for children, but some children find it difficult to manage strong feelings in safe and healthy ways. When anger becomes frequent, intense or disruptive, it can affect a child’s behaviour, relationships and wellbeing. Child anger management counselling offers supportive help to understand and manage these emotions.

Family Welfare provides child anger management counselling in a safe and confidential setting. Counselling is tailored to the child’s age, development and individual needs, helping them explore feelings in a way they can understand.

Children may express anger through outbursts, aggression, withdrawal or challenging behaviour. These reactions are often linked to underlying emotions such as frustration, anxiety, sadness or feeling misunderstood. Counselling helps children recognise these emotions and develop healthier ways to express them.

Sessions focus on emotional awareness, self regulation and practical coping strategies. Children learn to identify triggers, understand physical signs of anger and practise calmer responses. Over time this can improve behaviour at home and school and support better relationships with family members and peers.

Counselling also helps build confidence and emotional resilience. Children who feel listened to and supported are more likely to develop positive coping skills that stay with them as they grow.

Family Welfare works with children and families to provide a supportive service that encourages emotional understanding and positive change. If a child is struggling with anger, counselling can help them feel more in control and supported.

Please call 01942 867 888 or email admin@familywelfare.co.uk if you require any further information.

History and Overview of Our Service

We are a BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy) accredited counselling service, dedicated to providing professional therapeutic support. Our service offers flexible, tailored counselling that can range from half a day per week to five full days per week, based on the needs of the individual schools and colleges. Our team consists of experienced person-centred, integrative, solution focused and CBT therapists, all equipped to address a wide range of challenges, including anger management, bereavement, relationship issues, emotionally based school avoidance, loss, emotional dysregulation, anxiety and supporting children involved in Social Care processes. 

School Counselling Service – Established Over 25 Years Ago

As part of Family Welfare, a charity established in 1958, our counselling service has been a trusted provider for nearly three decades, offering evidence-based emotional support to students, staff, and parents. We work directly within schools to minimise disruptions to students’ learning by providing in-school therapy that fosters emotional well-being and supports academic success. Tailored to meet the specific needs of each school, we currently serve nearly 50 schools across the Wigan Borough. 

Our approach is designed to improve emotional health, enhance academic outcomes, and create a positive and supportive school environment. As the demand for mental health support has increased since Covid-19, many schools have recognised the critical value of offering counselling services to their pupils. More schools are turning to our service to provide direct, in-school support to help manage the emotional well-being of their students.

Commitment to Expanding and Adapting Our Services

As we continue to grow, we remain committed to broadening our reach within the community and ensuring that more people have access to the support they need. The need for effective, compassionate counselling has only become more evident in recent years, and we are passionate about providing tailored, high-quality care to all those who need it.

Supervision Services for School Staff

In addition to our counselling services for students, we also offer professional supervision for pastoral and Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) staff. Our supervision helps these professionals manage complex emotional outcomes for children in their care and ensures they are supported in their important work.

Feedback from clients, parents and professionals 

“I have appreciated a calm place where I am able to talk freely without being judged. I have never had a space to be able to open up & counselling has given me that. It has been refreshing to speak to an outsider about things. Thank you”.

“Client said her sessions had been helpful and she worries less about her dad now.  She shared that it was excellent to have sessions and liked to do the games and the drawing we had completed.  She shared that she no longer is scared, and she is much happier”. 

“The counselling made me feel better. I found it easy to talk to my counsellor.  Counselling helped me to understand the relationship with my mother better.  Counselling was more helpful than other services I’ve been sent to – loads more.”

“I really like coming to counselling and have liked having a therapist. I feel like you understand me better than most and I can say whatever I want without feeling judged”.

“Counselling has been AMAZING!”

Get in Touch

If you are considering a counselling service for your school or exploring alternative options to your current provision, please don’t hesitate to contact us. I would be happy to visit your school and discuss how our service can be adapted to meet the specific needs of your students and staff. We are here to help foster a supportive, emotionally healthy environment for everyone in your school community.

“Counselling can be a life-changing experience”

This is how the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) describes the benefits of counselling on their website.

Counselling helps people to manage difficult life problems. If you’ve had a traumatic experience, are coping with grief, depression or anxiety, or struggling to manage self-destructive behaviours and emotions, counselling could be the support you need.

The important thing to know is you don’t have to face these feelings and emotions alone. Wigan Family Welfare’s experienced counselling team is here to support. Talk to us, share your challenges and we’ll help you find ways to cope.

Counselling isn’t just about exploring solutions to problems. It can also help you to develop as a person. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits in more detail. 

6 Life-Changing Benefits of Counselling

Discover New Perspectives

A counselling session is a safe space to talk with an independent therapist. Sometimes just saying a thought out loud brings a huge sense of relief. You might start to look at challenges differently through open discussions and exploring new ideas.   

Build Communication Skills 

People who experience counselling become more able to express their feelings and emotions, which can also improve personal and work relationships. Talking to a trained professional who wants to listen and genuinely cares will develop your communication skills and build confidence in other areas of your life.  

Become a More Resilient Person

Counselling therapy can be stressful, particularly if you’re discussing a painful time or event in your life. With each session, you’ll make progress and become stronger. You might find it becomes easier to express your thoughts and feelings.   

Build your Self-esteem 

Lack of self-worth is a common trait in people who seek counselling support. Sharing your fears and exploring solutions could give you a real confidence boost. The simple act of talking builds self-esteem and you find new ways of coping in the future. 

Make Change Happen 

With counselling, you’re in control of your own destiny. Your counsellor will never tell you what to do or steer you down a certain path. They’ll listen and encourage you to investigate ideas and always make your own choices. The pace of progress is up to you. Even the smallest of changes is a positive step. 

Improved Quality of Life 

Stress, worry and anxiety can lead to insomnia or irregular sleep patterns. Getting issues off your chest through counselling can have a direct impact on the amount and quality of sleep you get. You may also feel more motivated and energised in life.

Counselling for Young People in Wigan

“The counsellors are excellent at forming relationships with our younger children, making them feel comfortable and helping them to overcome fears, anxieties or bereavements, for example. The children really look forward to the sessions and gain a lot of confidence from them.”

According to the Mental Health Foundation, 10% of UK children and young people (aged 5-16 years) have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem.   

Referral to a counselling service is often not the child’s choice, so the first conversation can be difficult. Once young people feel safe and understood, the benefits of counselling kick in. 

Our dedicated young persons counselling team is specially trained to help young people open up and give them tools and strategies that will benefit them into adult life. Of course, we keep parents informed at every stage of the counselling process too.

Talk to us about young persons counselling.  

Counselling for Adults and Families in Wigan

“Talking to the counsellor made me realise I can’t change other people, but I can change how I react to them”

A 2016 study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists found that approximately 68% of women and 57% of men with mental health problems are parents.

Starting and raising a family can be a stressful time. Sessions with a trained counsellor can help you feel more able to cope. Our perinatal counselling service is for pregnant mums and their partners or have children up to the age of one. 

Our specialist adult counselling services include anger management and bereavement support. Whatever your challenges may be, with our counsellors’ support you can come to terms with whatever is going on in your life and find new ways to cope. 

Talk to us about adult or perinatal counselling.

Adult anger management counselling is a specialised form of therapy designed to help individuals understand, cope with, and effectively manage their anger. Anger is a natural human emotion, but when it becomes overwhelming or uncontrollable, it can lead to destructive behaviours, strained relationships, and even physical health problems. Counselling can play a crucial role in addressing these issues and promoting healthier ways of expressing and managing anger.

One of the primary reasons why counselling is effective in anger management is that it provides a safe and non-judgmental space for individuals to explore the root causes of their anger. Often, anger is a secondary emotion, masking underlying feelings of hurt, frustration, fear, or sadness. Through counselling, individuals can gain insight into these underlying emotions and learn to identify triggers that provoke their anger.

This self-awareness is a crucial first step in managing anger more effectively.

Counselling also equips individuals with a range of coping strategies and tools to manage anger in constructive ways. Therapists may teach techniques such as deep breathing, mindfulness, and relaxation exercises to help clients stay calm in triggering situations. Cognitive-behavioural techniques can help individuals reframe negative thought patterns and replace them with more rational and positive ones.

Furthermore, counselling helps individuals develop better communication skills, which are essential in resolving conflicts and expressing their needs and feelings in a healthier manner. Learning assertiveness and active listening techniques can improve relationships and reduce the frequency and intensity of anger outbursts.

Another significant benefit of anger management counselling is the opportunity for clients to receive feedback and guidance from a trained professional. Therapists can help individuals set realistic goals for managing their anger and track their progress over time. This support and accountability are essential for long-term success in anger management.

In conclusion, anger management counselling is a valuable resource for individuals struggling with anger-related issues. It offers a holistic approach that addresses the emotional, cognitive, and behavioural aspects of anger. By gaining self-awareness, learning coping strategies, improving communication, and receiving professional guidance, individuals can break the cycle of destructive anger and achieve healthier and more fulfilling lives. Ultimately, counselling provides the tools and support necessary for individuals to regain control over their emotions and live more harmoniously with themselves and those around them.

To find out more about our services you can call us direct on 01942 867888 or click here and send us a message using our enquiry form.

Child anger management counselling is a specialised form of therapy designed to help children and adolescents learn to manage and express their anger in healthier ways. Anger is a natural emotion that everyone experiences, but when it becomes frequent, intense, or uncontrollable, it can lead to a range of negative consequences for both the child and those around them. Anger management counselling provides a structured and supportive environment for children to understand and address the underlying causes of their anger and develop effective coping strategies.

One of the primary goals of child anger management counselling is to help children identify the triggers that set off their anger. These triggers can vary widely from child to child and may include frustration, disappointment, feeling misunderstood, or even physical discomfort. By recognising these triggers, children can start to develop awareness of their emotions and begin to anticipate situations that might lead to anger.

In addition to identifying triggers, anger management counselling helps children explore the thoughts and beliefs that fuel their anger. Children often have cognitive distortions or irrational beliefs that contribute to their anger. For example, they might believe that things should always go their way or that others are intentionally trying to provoke them. counselling helps them challenge these beliefs and replace them with more realistic and balanced thoughts.

Effective communication is another critical aspect of anger management counselling for children. Many children struggle to express their feelings in a healthy and constructive manner. Instead, they may resort to yelling, hitting, or other aggressive behaviours. Through counselling, children learn to communicate their emotions verbally, helping them express themselves without resorting to physical or verbal aggression.

Furthermore, child anger management counselling equips children with a toolbox of coping strategies. Therapists work with children to identify alternative ways of dealing with anger, such as deep breathing, counting to ten, or taking a break from a stressful situation. Children also learn problem-solving skills, which can help them find solutions to the issues that trigger their anger.

Another important aspect of child anger management counselling is building emotional resilience. Children learn that it’s okay to feel angry but that they have the power to control their reactions. This empowerment fosters self-esteem and confidence, which can lead to more positive emotional regulation.

In conclusion, child anger management counselling is a valuable resource for children and adolescents struggling with anger-related issues. It provides them with the tools and skills necessary to understand and manage their anger effectively. By addressing the root causes of anger, improving communication, involving families, and building emotional resilience, this form of counselling helps children develop into emotionally healthy individuals who can navigate life’s challenges with greater ease and self-control. Ultimately, child anger management counselling empowers children to lead happier and more productive lives.

To find out more about our services you can call us direct on 01942 867888 or click here and send us a message using our enquiry form. 

Child bereavement counselling is a specialised form of therapy designed to help children and adolescents cope with the loss of a loved one. Bereavement, the experience of losing someone close, can be an incredibly challenging and emotionally distressing event for anyone, regardless of age. However, children often lack the emotional and cognitive tools to process and understand their grief fully. This is where child bereavement counselling steps in, offering a safe and supportive environment for young individuals to navigate their feelings of loss and grief.

Grief is a complex and individualised experience, and children may express it differently from adults. Child bereavement counsellors are trained to recognise and address these unique needs and challenges. They use a variety of therapeutic techniques to help children understand and express their emotions, develop coping strategies, and ultimately find a way to move forward while preserving the memory of the person they lost.

One crucial aspect of child bereavement counselling is creating a safe and nurturing space where children feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Children may not have the vocabulary to express their emotions, so counsellors often use play therapy, art therapy, and other creative techniques to facilitate communication. Through these mediums, children can express their grief in a way that feels natural to them, allowing them to process their emotions more effectively.

Child bereavement counsellors also provide education and information about the grieving process. They help children understand that grief is a normal response to loss and that there is no right or wrong way to grieve. This reassurance can alleviate feelings of guilt or confusion that children may experience as they navigate their grief.

In addition to individual counselling sessions, child bereavement counsellors often offer support groups where children can connect with peers who have experienced similar losses. Being part of a group of individuals who share their feelings of grief can be comforting and reassuring for children, reducing feelings of isolation.

Moreover, child bereavement counselling often involves working with the child’s family. Grief affects the entire family unit, and counsellors may provide guidance to parents on how to support their grieving child effectively. This may include tips on open communication, creating routines, and fostering an environment where emotions can be freely expressed.

Child bereavement counselling is not only about helping children process their grief in the short term but also about equipping them with lifelong coping skills. Children who receive support during their grieving process are more likely to develop healthy ways of dealing with future challenges and losses.

It is essential to note that child bereavement counselling is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Counsellors adapt their techniques and strategies based on the child’s age, developmental stage, personality, and cultural background. They also consider the specific circumstances of the loss, whether it’s the death of a parent, sibling, friend, or another significant figure.

In conclusion, child bereavement counselling is a vital service that provides children and adolescents with the tools and support they need to navigate the challenging journey of grief. It creates a safe and empathetic space for youngindividuals to express their feelings, learn about the grieving process, and find ways to honor the memory of their loved ones. Through individual counselling, support groups, and family involvement, child bereavement counselling helps children build resilience and develop healthy coping mechanisms that will serve them well throughout their lives. It is a crucial resource for helping children not only survive their grief but also thrive in the face of loss.

To find out more about our services you can call us direct on 01942 867888 or click here and send us a message using our enquiry