Mohammed was a really anxious child and used to struggle to leave his house. Having one-to-one counselling helped him to build his confidence and talk openly about his feelings. Now a teenager, he looks back on his experience.

In primary school I was really nervous and shy. I wouldn’t do a lot of things and I had a lot of anxieties. I also didn’t really like going out of the house.

I thought that school counselling would be quite dull, and that it would be just talking. But it wasn’t.

My counsellor was really nice, and I could tell her anything about myself and she wouldn’t tell anyone. I knew it would be confidential. The Place2Be session was really good in a way that I could just release everything. I could let everything go.

It made a difference to me afterwards. I told my counsellor about anything that was on my mind, but I realised that I could tell other people too, like my mum. It gave me more confidence, and I was more comfortable about being around loads of people. I could go out and stay with my friends.

It also made a difference to my school work. I was able to answer more in class. I’m smart in maths but I used to not want to put my hand up, even though I knew the answer to a question. I didn’t like people looking at me. I sat there thinking “don’t pick me”. But I don’t mind it now.

In my first year of secondary school I found a new confidence to stick up for myself. I used to let people walk all over me, but this doesn’t happen now because I’ve got the confidence to stop it.

Names in case studies may be changed to protect the identities of families and children. Photos used are for representative purposes only.