Everyone needs support at some time and young people are no different.

Life can be hard at times, and it's not always easy to know what to do or where to turn. Sometimes people can get the help they might need from a friend, a family member or an adult they trust, such as a teacher or a youth worker. But sometimes that's not enough.

If you feel like you're struggling with your thoughts and feelings, you're not alone, and you don't have to go through it on your own.  Response can help.

Run by Wirral Council, Response provide free, confidential Counselling to young people across Wirral aged 13 years up to 19 years.

What is counselling?

Counselling helps you look at the difficulties and problems that you may be having and is an opportunity to talk about your experiences without being judged. It can help you talk about stuff bothering you and make sense of your thoughts and feelings, and it can help you cope better with problems, both now and in the future. Counselling can help you understand what's going on for you and how you might like things to change.

Counselling is confidential, which means that you don't have to tell anyone that you're coming, and that Response won't tell anybody else what you talk about in sessions. The only exception to this is if you say that you or another young person is being harmed in some way, in which case the counsellor might have to tell somebody to help keep people safe, but they would always try to talk this over with you first.

What kind of problems do people talk about?

There are a whole range of difficulties which a young person might want to go and see a counsellor to talk about. Here are just a few:

• feeling depressed or worried
• exam stress or problems at school
• bullying
• feelings of loneliness
• death of a family member or friend
• family problems
• relationship issues
• sexuality
• past traumas
• self harm
• feeling suicidal

How do I get in touch?

Response can be contacted on 0151 666 4123 or by email at response@wirral.gov.uk. You'll find them at the Callister Centre, 19 Argyle Street, Birkenhead, CH41 1AD.

The counselling service is available through drop in and appointment. Counselling drop in sessions run every Tuesday from 1pm to 6pm - just turn up then and you'll get to speak to one of the counsellors.

They also offer appointments throughout the week Monday to Friday, both during the day and some evenings. You can ring to make an appointment.

Everyone needs support at some time and young people are no different.

Here's what some of the young people who've visited Response Counselling Service have had to say.

• I've grown to understand that it's ok to feel different. The way I feel is just part of who I am and I have learned to like that. (Female, 14)
• It's safe to say without you I wouldn't be the person I am today. Obviously I still find things hard - being my age is never simple. My anger and short temper is something I still find hard to control. The relationships with my family members are definitely improving and without my sessions with you it's scary to think I'd still be the nervous wreck I was this time last year. Words can't describe how grateful I am. (Female, 16)
• I think Response is a very special place with special staff. (anon)
• Response have helped me an awful lot. They have helped me realise and accept who I really am and because of this my confidence has increased so much that I am able to go and meet new people without feeling scared. I haven't felt this confident and at ease with myself in years. Thank you very much Response :-) (Male, 17)