The pastoral team at King Edward’s School (KES), which incorporates the school’s Health and Wellbeing Centre, has added an exciting new addition to the team, establishing a partnership with nationally renowned clinical psychologist, Linda Blair, in support of KES young people and families.
Already a regular speaker at KES parent and pupil wellbeing events, Linda is a Chartered Clinical Psychologist with over 40 years’ experience in the NHS and private practice. She is a Chartered Scientist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and a registered member of the Health and Care Professions Council. Linda worked at the University of Cambridge for many years and has written five self-help books on parenting, family relationships, stress management and Mindfulness.
She is also the psychology expert for Netmums and writes a regular column in the Telegraph. Linda will sit alongside the informal support that is offered by the school’s nurses in the Health and Wellbeing Centre, and the excellent work that is already undertaken by the School Counsellor as well as Form Tutors, Heads of Year, Senior Sixth Form Tutors and Heads of Sector.
Linda’s approach will be suitable for students suffering from problems such as anxiety and phobias, depressed mood, lack of self-confidence, concentration difficulties, stress management, relationship problems, obsessive compulsive disorders and eating disorders. She is also willing to see families, where appropriate.
When asked about her reasons for increasing her clinic time, Linda commented, “The last 18 months has been incredibly stressful for all of us, each in different ways. However, I think school children – particularly adolescents – have struggled most. I’ve always considered KES to be exceptionally well-attuned to their pupils’ psychological wellbeing, and I am delighted to add what I can.
“Human resilience is remarkable, and it will be my pleasure to help any KES pupil and/or their family emerge from this period psychologically stronger and more confident than they were before.”