Counselling helps children regulate emotions, improve resilience: report

One-to-one counseling sessions in primary schools can significantly boost young children's mental health and resilience, according to a government-backed report. The findings, based on an evaluation of a pilot scheme, indicate that children who received support showed marked improvements in their ability to regulate emotions and cope with difficult situations.

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young children become better at regulating their emotions and improve both their resilience and coping skills in difficult moments after taking part in one-to-one counselling sessions.

The report, published by Minister for Education Hildegarde Naughton and compiled by the National Education Psychological Service, focused on children with mild to moderate mental health needs across seven counties. The evaluation, conducted by the Centre for Effective Services, highlighted that both counseling and educational well-being practitioner support were positively received by pupils, parents, school leaders, and staff.

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one-to-one counselling and EWP support were positively received by pupils, parents, school leaders and staff.

Children involved in the pilot reported enhanced emotional regulation, greater resilience, improved communication skills, and better coping strategies. Based on these encouraging outcomes, the pilot scheme is now expected to be expanded to other regions across the country, aiming to bring these benefits to a wider student population.

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children reported improvements in emotional regulation, resilience, communication skills and coping strategies.