Counselling Children and Young People

Ages 9 - 18 years

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​Children and Young People's Counselling is for any young person who is struggling with how they feel.

Counselling can help children and young people find their way through whatever is troubling them and give them the tools, confidence and resilience to tackle future obstacles. 

 I can help young people deal with issues, events and the effects they are having on their mental wellbeing. These maybe issues such as:​

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• Difficulties relating to Covid-19.

• Transitions and changes. 

• Low self-esteem.

• Low self-confidence.

• Low mood.

• Anger.

• Relationship difficulties.

• Identity/Sexuality.

• Bullying.

• Anxiety.

• Behavioural problems.

• Depression. 

• Bereavement/loss.

• Attachment disorder.

• Separation anxiety.

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How much are Counselling Sessions?

Counselling Sessions are 

£40-00 for 50 mins 

During Covid-19

How do you work?

I work online via Zoom, by telephone and face to face

(See Sessions for more information)

Is my child suitable for Counselling?

Counselling can be very beneficial to children and young people who are experiencing a range of issues. Counselling not only builds self-esteem, confidence and resilience it encourages self-awareness and the development of positive mental health coping strategies. 

It is important to understand that counselling will not offer a diagnosis for your child, although issues may come to light during counselling that require a referral to a specialist service. This would be the case if your child is suffering from a serious mental health condition. 

How long are the sessions and how many will my child need?

As with adult’s, children counselling sessions are 50 minutes and usually happen weekly. After the initial assessment if you and your child would like to proceed we can discuss how many sessions would be beneficial. Counselling can be stopped at any time, a review is usually carried out midway through to see how things are going and if further sessions are required.

What happens at the initial assessment?

An initial assessment will last for 50 minutes. This is an opportunity for your child to tell me in their own words what is going on for them. You are welcome to sit in on the first 10 minutes of the initial session if you both feel this would be beneficial.

I will ask your child to tell me in their own words how they are feeling and ask a number of questions to find out a little more about their life. They are free to be as open and honest as they want and only if they feel comfortable. 

It is at the end of this appointment where we will decide if counselling is appropriate and if this is something they wish to do. I will also make some time at the end of the assessment appointment for any questions you may have and to arrange a convenient date and time for your child’s counselling to begin. 

Can I sit with my child during their counselling session?

Counselling is one to one and it is important that your child can have privacy during this time. The therapeutic relationship is based on trust so that they can discuss anything that is on their mind free of judgement and without fear of reprisal. It is important to have a safe space for them to explore their thoughts, feeling and emotions. If issues are family related having that time to express these feelings could help your child to understand their emotions and improve relationships with their loved ones. As long as a safeguarding issue has not been raised I will always support your child with their family issues with discretion and sensitivity.

What will happen during my child's counselling session?

As all counselling sessions are unique, some young people know how they want to spend their time and are happy to sit and talk. Others may take a little time to open up and would prefer a more creative way of working such as drawing, painting or colouring in. Creative play includes the use of modelling putty, completing work sheets about feeling or emotions, the use of emotion word cards, playing with toy figures, sensory toys, stones or shells in the sand tray. All of these ways of working are different yet they offer a young person the opportunity to explore what is going on for them in a way that they feel comfortable.  

Will you tell me what my child has talked about?

As counselling sessions are one to one and based on trust within the therapeutic relationship I will not discuss with you what your child has talked about as I adhere to strict rules of confidentiality. I always encourage young people to talk to their parents if that is their wish. I am happy to talk to you about something your child brings during a session if that is their wish and they need help from me to talk to you. If a safeguarding issue is raised I will talk to you as long as it is safe and appropriate to do so. Please be assured your child and their safety is my priority.

How will you safeguard my child?

Safeguarding children and young people is of the utmost importance to me. I am fully committed to the safety and wellbeing of all client’s which includes being fully qualified, enhanced DBS, fully insured and registered with BACP and NCS. I have completed Safeguarding training working with Children and Young People and Levels 1-3 Safeguarding Children.

I am committed to ongoing training for all areas of my work. I attend monthly supervision to ensure I am working both safely and ethically in the best interests of my clients.

Should there be a safeguarding concern I will adhere strictly to my safeguarding procedure.