If you have a young person who is struggling with any aspect of their mental health, such as friendship difficulties, low mood, low self-esteem, exam stress, drug/alcohol abuse, self-harm, suicidality, I create a comforting, nurturing environment where they can explore and move past their issues in a way that makes sense to them. Young people usually struggle to vocalise their true feelings, and parents can find it difficult to know what’s going on with their child, so my focus as a counsellor is to provide the right conditions for that young person to properly express themselves. My practice is a safe, friendly place for your child to feel accepted, understood, and supported at every juncture.
Sessions are available for young people aged 12 and upwards. To learn more about my young person counselling in Swindon, Wiltshire and online, feel free to give me a call or simply keep reading.
Having fostered for 11 years, I am privileged to have acquired a high amount of insight into the issues children face and how early life experience can influence the way they think, feel, and behave in the present moment. When working with young people, my role is to meet them where they are, and work in a style and at a pace that is right for them without any judgement or pressure.
I often employ Gestalt therapy techniques, encouraging children to not express themselves directly through words – as this can be difficult for some children and adolescents – but instead through other instinctive and creative means that feel more familiar to them. Working in this way enables young people to build a relationship with me in a way that they weren’t able to before. You can read more about my process below.
As a parent or guardian of a young person in need of counselling, you can get in touch with me to arrange an initial consultation. This consultation will allow us to establish what’s going on for your child/teenager and how I can help them. Alternatively, it may be more productive and effective for me to work independently with you, the parent, until the young person is ready to access therapy for themselves. I’m always careful to check that each young person is comfortable with coming to therapy before beginning a series of sessions.
I will arrange weekly sessions at a time that’s most convenient to you, the parents, and your family, either in person or online via Zoom, depending on what your child prefers. My first session with the young person will be about giving them the space and support they need to bring their difficulties to the surface, with me adapting my approach accordingly to suit their needs. Having spent some time with them, we can then decide on a way of working that is tailored to the young person and makes them feel at ease.
After a few weeks of sessions, I will schedule a meeting with you, the parent, and we can take time to discuss your young person’s progress and to see what changes might need to be made to ensure they continue to receive the most accurate kind of support. I am always careful to listen to the young person’s point of view and make sure they feel truly heard, as this allows us to work together more effectively and make greater progress.
I am qualified to work with young people over a range of issues, which include but are not limited to:
Loneliness
Exam stress
Suicidal ideation
Self-harm
Loss/Bereavement
Anxiety
Depression
Body dysmorphia
LGBTQIA+ issues
Abuse (sexual, physical, domestic)
Along with supporting young people through various challenges, I also have high levels of experience in providing counselling in Swindon, Wiltshire, and online for adults as well. Take a look at my Adult Counselling page to learn more.
Please get in touch to arrange a free, no obligation telephone call. We can then meet and greet to gain an understanding of each other within the therapeutic relationship. This also allows you to make an informed choice whether I am the therapist for you.
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