Young People

Counselling for Children 4+ and Counselling for Teenagers.

I wanted to add this section as young people can face other/different pressures which adults don't always have to deal with. This can include peer pressure, their online presence, online bullying, being constantly available via social media, pressure from trying to do too much, school issues, mental health issues....

This might also be in addition to other issues such as anxiety, depression, behavioural issues etc.  Whatever you or your child or teenager is experiencing, if you/they need to talk, please contact me.   

It can feel like you are alone or different when experiencing something that might not be spoken about much, but many people have issues they don't talk about publicly.

Any young person should be able to access counselling or support when THEY need to and not because they are made to do so. A lot of young people think that everything said in counselling will be reported back to a parent or someone else, but this is not always the case. Of course there are rules and guidelines to follow but most parents/guardians understand that a young person might need to talk to someone outside of the family or friend group at times and that some confidentiality could benefit the person. 

I know counselling can seem like a scary prospect to young people who haven't had it before, but please know, you will be treated as a person whatever issues you may have. 

Issues vary from person to person and you might feel alone thinking about some of the things you do, but you are not alone, even if you don't realise it yet. 

Young people come to me with issues such as those mentioned above, but also with sexual issues, sexuality, behaviour, how they are feeling, things they have never said to anyone before......

You won't be pressured into talking about things you aren't ready to yet and we will move at your own speed. Some people talk straight away and some need a few appointments to build trust, it is important to know that you can have control over that. 

TWEENS

This is a time when big changes occur for this age group. Not just physically but mentally with all the new experiences they might have.  It can be a challenging time for children and parents/guardians. I sometimes hear that people feel like bad parents if their child needs counselling. That is completely untrue. It shows that you care. It can be strange for parent and child to talk to a counsellor at first, but if your child needs support from outside of their family or friends group, shouldn't they be allowed that support, just like an adult would get?! Sessions go at your child's own pace to allow them time to talk in a comfortable, safe environment. 

Therapy will be age appropriate, for example play therapy might be better suited to younger children. 

Feel free to contact me with any enquiries.