Back to School After the Summer Holidays: How Youth Counselling and Mentoring Can Help
Getting Ready to Go Back to School
After several weeks away from school, going back can feel like a big adjustment for young people.
The summer holidays can provide a welcome break from lessons, homework, exams, teachers and the social pressures of school. Young people may have enjoyed spending more time with family and friends, staying up later, having fewer responsibilities and having the freedom to choose how they spend their days.
Then suddenly, September arrives.
There are uniforms to find, timetables to learn, early mornings to get used to and a whole range of thoughts and feelings about what the new school year might bring.
For some young people, returning to school is exciting. For others, it can bring worry, anxiety, low mood, stress or a sense of being overwhelmed.
This is where youth counselling or mentoring can provide valuable support.
Why Can Going Back to School Feel Difficult?
Returning to school isn’t simply about getting back into a routine. Young people may be facing a number of changes and challenges at the same time.
They might be:
- Starting a new school or college
- Moving into a new year group
- Starting GCSEs, A-levels or other important qualifications
- Worried about exams and coursework
- Concerned about making or maintaining friendships
- Experiencing bullying or difficulties with peers
- Worried about teachers or school expectations
- Struggling with changes to their routine
- Feeling pressure to achieve academically
- Comparing themselves with other young people
- Feeling anxious about being away from home
- Worrying about fitting in
- Dealing with changes within their family or friendship groups
- Unsure about what the future holds
Sometimes, a young person may not even know why they are feeling anxious about returning.
They may simply have a feeling of “I don’t want to go back.”
It’s important to take those feelings seriously.
Youth Counselling: A Safe Space to Talk
One of the biggest benefits of counselling is having somewhere a young person can talk openly about what is happening for them.
Young people don’t always feel able to tell parents, teachers or friends what they are thinking and feeling.
They might worry about being judged, misunderstood or disappointing someone.
Counselling can provide a confidential, supportive and non-judgemental environment where they can explore those feelings at their own pace.
A counsellor isn’t there to tell a young person what they should be feeling.
Instead, counselling can help them understand:
“What’s happening for me, and what might help?”
Learning to Recognise Anxiety and Stress
Sometimes anxiety can feel overwhelming because it is difficult to understand what is causing it.
A counsellor can help a young person identify their triggers and recognise how stress and anxiety affect them.
For example, anxiety might show itself through:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Headaches or stomach aches
- Irritability
- Feeling tearful
- Overthinking
- Difficulty concentrating
- Wanting to avoid school
- Feeling sick before school
- Racing thoughts
- Becoming withdrawn
- Feeling constantly “on edge”
Understanding these reactions can be an important first step.
Once a young person recognises their warning signs, they can begin developing strategies to manage them.
Building Confidence for the New School Year
Returning to school can sometimes bring questions such as:
“Will I fit in?”
“What if nobody likes me?”
“What if I can’t do the work?”
“What if I fail?”
“What if things go wrong?”
Mentoring and counselling can help young people challenge some of these negative thoughts and develop a more balanced perspective.
Rather than thinking:
“I’m going to fail everything.”
They might learn to think:
“I’m worried about finding the work difficult, but I can ask for help if I need it.”
That shift might seem small, but it can make a significant difference to how a young person approaches a difficult situation.
Mentoring: Practical Support for Practical Problems
While counselling often provides a space to explore emotions, mentoring can provide practical support and encouragement.
A mentor can work alongside a young person to think about things such as:
- Getting back into a school routine
- Organisation and time management
- Setting realistic goals
- Preparing for exams
- Managing homework
- Building confidence
- Developing communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Preparing for difficult conversations
- Thinking about future education or careers
The aim isn’t to do things for the young person.
It’s about helping them develop the confidence and skills to do things for themselves.
Setting Small, Achievable Goals
The beginning of a new school year can feel like a mountain of expectations.
Instead of thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next year, counselling or mentoring can help break things down into smaller, manageable steps.
For example:
Big goal:
“I want to do better at school this year.”
Could become:
- Attend school regularly
- Organise my school bag the night before
- Complete one piece of homework at a time
- Ask my teacher when I don’t understand something
- Spend 20 minutes revising three times a week
- Make time for friends and activities
- Have a consistent bedtime
Small achievements can gradually build confidence.
Dealing With Friendship Difficulties
For many young people, one of the biggest concerns about returning to school isn’t the lessons.
It’s other people.
Friendships can change considerably over the summer. Young people may return to school to discover that friendship groups have changed, relationships have broken down or people have formed new friendships.
This can be particularly difficult for someone who already struggles with confidence or social anxiety.
Counselling can provide somewhere to explore these experiences and feelings.
A counsellor might help a young person consider:
- What makes a healthy friendship?
- How do I know when someone is treating me well?
- How can I communicate my boundaries?
- What can I do if I feel excluded?
- Who can I talk to if I’m being bullied?
- How can I meet new people?
- How can I build my confidence socially?
It’s Okay Not to Feel Excited About Going Back
There can sometimes be pressure for young people to be excited about a new school year.
But it’s perfectly okay if they aren’t.
They might feel:
Excited.
Nervous.
Sad that summer has ended.
Worried about what’s coming.
Relieved to see friends again.
Overwhelmed by the thought of returning.
Or perhaps they feel several of these things at once.
There isn’t a “correct” way to feel about going back to school.
Counselling can help young people understand and accept their emotions rather than feeling that they have to hide them.
Creating a Support Network
One of the most important things we can help young people understand is that they don’t have to deal with everything alone.
Their support network might include:
- Parents or carers
- Teachers
- School pastoral staff
- Friends
- Youth workers
- Counsellors
- Mentors
- Family members
- Other trusted adults
Knowing who they can turn to when something becomes difficult can make challenges feel much more manageable.
A young person doesn’t need to wait until they are struggling significantly before asking for support.
Sometimes getting help early can prevent a small problem from becoming a much bigger one.
How Parents and Carers Can Help
Parents and carers can also make the transition back to school easier.
Try to create opportunities for conversation without making every conversation about school.
Instead of:
“Are you worried about going back?”
You could try:
“How are you feeling about September?”
Or simply:
“What’s going through your mind about going back?”
Most importantly, listen.
You don’t always need to immediately provide a solution.
Sometimes a young person needs to know that someone has heard them and understands that what they’re experiencing feels difficult.
You can also help by:
- Gradually returning to a school-friendly sleep routine
- Preparing uniforms and equipment in advance
- Helping them organise their first few days
- Encouraging healthy meals and regular routines
- Making time for relaxation
- Celebrating effort rather than just results
- Reminding them that asking for help is a strength
A New School Year Doesn’t Have to Mean a Perfect School Year
It’s easy for young people to see September as an opportunity to completely reinvent themselves.
“This year I’m going to get perfect grades.”
“I’m going to have loads of friends.”
“I’m never going to procrastinate again!”
Ambition can be positive, but putting too much pressure on ourselves can quickly become overwhelming.
A healthier goal might be:
“I’m going to do the best I can, learn from setbacks and ask for help when I need it.”
There will probably be good days and difficult days.
That’s normal.
The aim isn’t to make sure everything goes perfectly.
It’s to help young people develop the resilience, confidence and support networks they need when things don’t go perfectly.
Counselling and Mentoring Can Help Young People Thrive
Going back to school after the summer holidays is a significant transition.
For some young people, it may simply take a few days to settle back into their routine.
For others, it can bring significant emotional, social or academic challenges.
Youth counselling and mentoring can provide a safe place to explore those challenges, develop coping strategies, build confidence and work towards positive goals.
Sometimes, having someone outside of the family or school environment to talk to can make all the difference.
You don’t have to wait until things become overwhelming before asking for support.
If a young person is worried about returning to school, struggling with anxiety, experiencing friendship difficulties or simply feeling unsure about the year ahead, reaching out for support can be a positive first step.
