Our Counselling Team

We are delighted to have partnered with The Soke, a private cognitive health services provider.

We are delighted to have partnered with The Soke, a private cognitive health services provider. The School has worked closely with the Soke since 2021 in order to provide comprehensive on-site counselling, expert pastoral supervision and targeted psychoeducation in support of the school's holistic wellbeing strategy.

The Soke have a broad team of practitioners, chosen not just on the basis of their expertise and experience, but also for their proven commitment to excellence in the delivery of best-in-class mental healthcare.
In recognition of our pioneering provision to pupils in this area, we were named a Finalist in the Independent Schools of the Year Award 2022, for Outstanding New Initiative and more recently the service was recognised as contributing significantly to The Week’s judgement of Ibstock being the best of the best for Pastoral Care in their list of the best senior schools of 2025.

Meet Our Counsellors

Shannon is an experienced counsellor, supporting children, adolescents and young adults aged 5-25 years.

Alongside her work at Ibstock providing comprehensive onsite counselling and pastoral care, she also works with clients at The Soke Wimbledon.

Shannon's Master of Counselling in Advanced Counselling Practice, her experience working with over 2,300 young people and her background in education, allow her to fully understand the challenges that young people face. She provides Crisis and Emotional Wellbeing Counselling and supports young people who are experiencing a spectrum of issues including trauma, anxiety, bereavement and relationship challenges.

Sarah is a child and adolescent therapist with over 15 years’ experience working across NHS and private services.

Sarah has undertaken specific training in Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing (EMDR). This has enabled her to support and work with adolescents and young people with a wide range of presentations including depression, anxiety, self-harm and emotional dysregulation/relational difficulties.

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Reviews

The Good Schools Guide
Talk Education
From Parents
Tatler Schools Guide
From Pupils

‘Spectacular music from the start.’

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‘Stunning art from outset.’

'Range of clubs and societies...mind-boggling'

Range of clubs and societies…mind-boggling’

‘…pupils are taught to become independent critical thinkers...’

Read the full review for Prep

Read the full review for Senior

'The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey...'

‘The whole school is led impressively by Chris Wolsey. Engaged and accessible, he brings a collegiate style of leadership to the school community.’

'...seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘This all-through school on the edge of Richmond Park seamlessly combines tradition and innovation…’

‘…the range of community and charity activities...'

‘…the range of community and charity activities that my son is involved with is amazing.’

‘We love everything about Ibstock...'

‘We love everything about Ibstock and our son is incredibly happy there.’

'...my daughter is happy and flourishing...'

‘Very happy indeed with the school as a parent. Most importantly, my daughter is happy and flourishing. Thank you.’

‘Christoper Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’

‘From personal experience – and it’s the consensus among my peers – I believe that Christopher Wolsey is somebody who genuinely cares about the wellbeing and opinions of the students.’ So says one satisfied parent of Ibstock’s head. And Wolsey cares about the pupils’ articulacy, too.

Tatler

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy..'

'Alongside forging positive relationships with his charges, he puts great emphasis on their oracy: the public-speaking team recently triumphed in a competition at Cambridge University; and through membership of the The Noisy Classroom organisation, the debaters can argue the toss with children from around the world.'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers'

'The new Esports arena is match-fit for gamers; the school team has exploded onto the Esports Rocket League, already winning silverware; and did we mention that there’s an incoming head of AI? However, if all this doesn’t sound enticing enough, the roster of foreign adventures should clinch it. ‘Over the next few years, my lucky son is hoping to go on a classics trip to Pompeii and a Tuscan art retreat, as well as language-study visits to Munich and Valencia, skiing in Switzerland and surfing in France,’ reports one parent.'

'...I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘It’s given me so many opportunities... I don’t think there could be a better school for me.’

‘Right from the beginning I was made to feel at home.’

‘Ibstock...helped me to explore my interests and talents.’

‘Ibstock helped me achieve the grades I needed…but more importantly it helped me to explore my interests and talents.’

Our Counselling Team

Reviews