Young Persons Therapy

What to Expect from Counselling

For Parents

We understand how worrying it can be if your child is struggling with their mental health and although counselling protects the confidentiality of your child, we are mindful of your relationship in offering our services. If you wish to find a counsellor for your child, please click on this link to book a free assessment. At assessment, your counsellor will explain how counselling works, as well as offering safeguarding information and listen to relevant background issues from both your perspectives. The counsellor will then ask if your child is happy to have a chat without you in the room to hear how they’re feeling and begin to build a relationship of trust. Going forward, we respect your child’s decision whether to have counselling. Sometimes children prefer to have the assessment without you in the room, so please let us know if that’s the case.

For Children and Teenagers

There are many different reasons you might be thinking of seeing a counsellor and rest assured talking to a counsellor means you will be heard in a safe space, without fear of being judged. Your counsellor will help you explore how you’re feeling and ask how you’d like to use the sessions. If it’s hard to find words, some of our counsellors use movement, breathing tools or creative materials for healing. You can talk as much or as little as you wish to about your problems and sometimes just being in a space where you can be you, playing a game, colouring a picture, listening to your favourite music or reading a book might feel like a safe starting point.

For Adolescents and young people

Transitioning from childhood to adulthood can bring many challenges such as changing relationships with family and friends and partners, learning to set boundaries and adapting to or managing new life experiences. Our counsellors work with you supportively to help you figure things out in a way that feels right for you, so you can move forward with a clearer understanding of things and more confident of yourself. Sometimes just knowing there’s a space where it’s ok to not be ok and looking at what is within your control or what expectations are realistic or what to let go of helps bring clarity. All our sessions are tailored to suit your needs so that you feel heard and respected. We offer a free, confidential assessment which can be booked here.

For all our services for young people, there are low-cost options available to those on job-seekers or disability allowance.

Visit our Anxiety Hub for Teens and Adolescents for a list of community groups and mobile apps which promote activities, social interaction, inclusion as well as teaching and applying a range of useful life skills.