Counselling for Children and Young People
Seeking counselling for your child can feel like a significant and sometimes daunting step. Many parents arrive at this point after noticing changes in their child's behaviour, mood or development. Perhaps your child is struggling with anxiety, withdrawal, difficulties at school, or challenges with friendships and family relationships.
It's natural to feel concerned, uncertain and even doubt yourself that you have 'not done things right'. Reaching out for support, however, shows care and awareness, and willingness to help your child navigate what they may not have words for yet.
The most important part of counselling with children and young people is the relationship, which can sometimes take a little while to build. I will provide your child with a safe and supportive space where they can explore their feelings, develop coping strategies and build their emotional resilience. Every child is different and I will tailor the sessions to meet their needs as I get to know them, whether that be through conversation, play or creativity.
Some children and young people can be reluctant to engage with counselling at first. They may be unsure about talking to someone new and can feel worried about being judged or 'told off'. Progress can sometimes take time, and changes may not always be immediate or consistent.
I use a number of methods to help them to feel comfortable such as board games or card games, which in turn helps them to know that they are safe to share things. Once the relationship has a strong foundation we can then move on to more in depth methods such as creative work or a sand tray. It's a bit like building a house - the foundations need to be stable before you begin the brickwork, which needs to be completed before adding doors, windows and a roof.
If you think that your child would benefit from working with me, please do get in touch via the information on the homepage or via the 'contact me' button which is also on the homepage. I offer a free introductory call to go through confidentiality, boundaries and availability.
Online sessions are not generally appropriate for children and young people, particularly young children. I can visit your child at school (providing that school have a space that we can use), or they can come to see me out of school during the day (schools are usually pretty understanding if children miss school for counselling sessions). I can also offer some late afternoon, evening and weekend sessions if you would rather they didn't miss school. If your child struggles to leave the house I may be able to visit them at home - please let me know if this is something your child may need and we can discuss this.