Therapy for young people
For 11-17yr olds. Space to explore difficult feelings and experiences through talking and creative approaches
A 50 minute consultation with one of our assessing clinicians. A member of our team will contact you within 48hrs to arrange a suitable time.
Some of the common difficulties we can help with
Anxiety, including social anxiety
Low mood and depression
Stress, school pressures and exam anxiety
Self-esteem, confidence and identity
Friendships and relationship difficulties
Anger, frustration and difficulties managing emotions
Withdrawal, loneliness and social isolation
Bereavement, loss and changes in family circumstances
Bullying, including online bullying
Emotional difficulties experienced by autistic young people and those with ADHD
Trauma and distressing experiences
Self-harm and difficulties coping with overwhelming feelings
Understanding psychotherapy for young people
Young people come to therapy for many different reasons. Some have experienced emotional or relational difficulties since childhood, while others may be struggling with more recent experiences or changes in their lives. Sometimes there is a clear reason for their distress; at other times, the difficulties are harder to understand.
Psychotherapy offers young people an opportunity to explore their experiences within a consistent and trusting therapeutic relationship. Our therapists take time to understand each young person's emotional development, relationships, experiences and individual circumstances, recognising that difficulties may have developed over time or become more pronounced during adolescence.
Some young people find it helpful to talk, while others feel more comfortable expressing themselves through art, imagery, sand tray work or other creative approaches. We adapt the therapeutic work to their individual needs, allowing the relationship and their understanding of themselves to develop at their own pace.
Coming to therapy can feel like a big step, particularly when you're not sure what to expect or whether talking to someone will help.
We'd like to get to know you as a person, not simply through the difficulties you might be experiencing. We're interested in your thoughts, feelings, relationships and experiences, including the things that matter to you and the things that might be difficult to share.
You don't need to know where to begin or have the words to explain everything. Being known and understood takes time, and we'll work together to explore what's happening in your life and how things feel from your perspective.
Sometimes that happens through conversation, and sometimes through art, imagery, sand tray or other creative activities. There's no particular way you're expected to express yourself. What's important is finding a way of working together that feels comfortable and meaningful to you.
To the young person reading this
Your relationship with your therapist
Therapy offers you a space of your own, where you can gradually develop a relationship with someone who will listen carefully, take your experiences seriously and try to understand things from your point of view.
What you talk about is private.
We also recognise the importance of your relationships outside therapy, including with your parents or carers. We'll work thoughtfully with them to support you, while respecting the relationship you develop with your therapist and your need for privacy. We'll be clear with you from the beginning about how confidentiality works, including when we might need to share information to keep someone safe.
Above all, we want therapy to be somewhere you feel able to be yourself, including when things feel complicated, uncertain or difficult to put into words.
What to expect
1. An initial conversation
We begin with a 50-minute consultation with you, without your child present. This gives us time to understand your concerns, learn about your child's development, relationships and experiences, and explore what has brought you to seek support.
A member of our team will contact you within two working days of your booking to arrange the consultation.
2. Meeting the young person
The first appointment is a 50-minute session in one of our therapy rooms. This is an opportunity for the young person to meet their therapist, become familiar with the space and begin to establish a relationship.
Some young people prefer to meet their therapist independently, while others may feel more comfortable having a parent or carer present initially. We'll approach this sensitively, respecting their preferences and allowing them time to settle without pressure to talk or share more than they're ready to.
3. Regular weekly sessions
Sessions may involve conversation, art, imagery, sand tray or other creative approaches, depending on what feels most helpful to the young person. The work develops through the therapeutic relationship, with time to explore their experiences and difficulties at their own pace.
4. Six-weekly reviews
Every six weeks, we meet with parents or carers to reflect on how the therapy is progressing, discuss any concerns and consider how best to support the young person.
We approach these conversations collaboratively, recognising the importance of family relationships while respecting the young person's confidentiality and their relationship with their therapist.
Book a parent consultation
A 50 minute consultation without your child, over Zoom for £60
Once you’ve booked your consultation, one of our assessing clinicians will contact you within 48hrs
A 50 minute consultation with one of our assessing clinicians. A member of our team will contact you within 48hrs to arrange a suitable time.