I love the room I have now. It’s not perfect but when I open the door it is welcoming and fun. Fun might seem like an odd one for a counselling room but I wanted it to be obvious when young people come through the door. I want them to feel it is not formal and that they can feel more at ease. I hope that the messages the room gives, conveys messages about counselling and me that may also challenge some of their assumptions and allay some of their fears.
When I first moved into my room it was in need of decoration but thanks to a small budget and a bit of creativity the room was soon transformed in to a space that feels and looks different to any other room in the school. This difference has been commented on by some of the young people using the room and there is some amazement expressed at knowing about the room’s existence.
Not all mention the room but when they do it is always with some curiosity about the things in it or about who did it, or why they didn’t know about it. When their comments are about its existence I always feel a bit of magic surrounds it as if they feel it’s always been there in its present state but undiscovered by them! I suppose I hope that in the discovery of this room they find a safe place to be where they can share difficult feelings and experiences.
I believe the room helps enormously. Of course it is not the most significant thing but it is part of the package. Having a room that young people feel is different from other places in the school and where they can use toys and art materials in a variety of ways, if they want, helps to make them more at ease and gives them a chance to express themselves in different ways.
I like the fact that some people make things that they leave behind and they have become part of the decorations. I hope that this also adds to them feeling this is their room as well as mine.
