Children
& Adolescents
Often, children and teenagers come to therapy feeling overwhelmed, confused, or as though parts of themselves are in conflict or missing.
My role is to help them begin to piece things back together - to make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, so they can feel more connected to themselves and begin to move forward with greater confidence.
How do I work with Children and Adolescents?
As an integrative psychotherapist, I draw on a broad range of approaches, tailoring therapy to the unique needs of each child or young person.
My approach combines psychodynamic and attachment-based thinking with creative and play-based methods. My work is also trauma-informed, and where helpful, I bring in elements of CBT, DBT, and mindfulness to support emotional regulation and resilience.
Supporting Children
Children and young people may not always have the words to express what they’re feeling, especially when emotions feel overwhelming or confusing. Big feelings can instead show up through behaviour - such as withdrawal, defiance or anxiety - not because they are being “difficult,” but because they are trying to communicate something important.
I offer a safe space for children to use their natural way of expressing themselves, through behaviour, play, or body language. By using creative techniques, such as art, sand tray or through metaphor, I help children express feelings in a gentle and indirect way that might otherwise remain hidden. These approaches can also help them develop healthier coping strategies and new ways to manage strong emotions.
Supporting Adolescents
Adolescence is a time of transition- full of change, uncertainty, and discovery. I provide a supportive space where young people can explore identity, emotions, and relationships, with curiosity and care, in a way that feels both safe and meaningful. I also help young people build practical tools to manage the challenges that come with this stage of life.
Collaborating with Families & Schools
I also consider the wider context of a child’s life - family, school, and community. Where helpful, I collaborate with parents, carers, and schools to ensure consistent support, as this joined-up approach often leads to lasting change.
At its heart, child and adolescent psychotherapy offers a space where children and young people can feel supported, and understood - allowing healing and growth to unfold at their own pace.
The Process
Everyone’s journey is unique, and no two individuals experience life in the same way. That’s why my process is designed to be flexible while still following a proven framework.
20 minute Introductory Call
The first step is to arrange a free 20-minute video or phone call. This is an opportunity for us to briefly connect, talk through the reasons you are seeking support for your child, discuss practical details such as availability and fees, and ask any initial questions. It’s also a chance for you to get a sense of whether I might be the right fit.
Parent/Carer Consultation
If it feels right for us to move forward, the next step is a longer in-person consultation with you as a parent or carer, which lasts 90 minutes. This session gives us time to explore your child’s emotional and developmental history, family background, and the current concerns. Together, we’ll think about what kind of support might be most helpful for your child.
Your Child’s First Session
The following step will be an initial session with your child or teenager. If they feel comfortable and we all agree to begin working together, we’ll start with a commitment to five weekly sessions. This first phase gives us time to build a safe and trusting therapeutic relationship, and to gain a fuller picture of how best to support your child.
Ongoing Support
After the first five sessions, we will have a review - either with you, your child, or both - to reflect on how things are going, whether it feels like a good fit, and to agree on a plan for ongoing work.
Throughout therapy, I’ll check in with you at agreed intervals to review your child’s progress. With older teenagers, I follow their lead around how much they’d like you involved in their process, holding this with care, sensitivity, and respect. In some cases, I may also suggest Reflective Parenting sessions alongside your child’s therapy to support you as a parent and to strengthen the work we’re doing.
Supporting Your Child
Your presence, interest, and support outside the therapy room can make a big difference. While your child may need privacy in sessions - especially as they get older - your emotional availability, consistency, and curiosity about their experience can help build trust in the process.
With younger children, I’ll check in with you more regularly. With older children and teenagers, I follow their lead around how much they’d like you involved, while always holding their wellbeing and safety at the centre.
Progress in therapy doesn’t always look like big changes straight away. Often, it begins with small, subtle shifts - like your child being slightly more open, showing more curiosity about their feelings, or having fewer emotional outbursts. You might notice changes in how they relate to you, or in how they respond to difficult situations.
It’s also common for things to feel a little unsettled before they begin to improve, especially if your child is starting to explore emotions they’ve kept inside. Part of the process is creating a safe space where those feelings can come to the surface.
Yes. When appropriate, I offer parent reviews at agreed intervals to reflect on how things are going and to think together about any changes you may have noticed at home or school. These check-ins are not always updates about the content of sessions, but a space to consider the overall progress and whether your child feels supported.
Confidentiality is an important part of building a safe and trusting space for your child. In any review, I will always let your child know what is being shared with you, and I approach this in a way that supports their sense of trust and agency in the process.
You can let your child know you’re available if they want to talk, but try not to press them for details. Therapy is most effective when children feel they can speak freely without pressure to report back. Instead, you might say something like, “I’m glad you’re going. I’m here if you ever want to talk about it.”
Sometimes children become more emotional or unsettled when they first begin therapy- this can be a natural part of starting to process feelings that have been held in for a long time. If you're finding it hard to manage, I encourage you to bring this into our parent check-ins, and we can think it through together. Reflective Parenting sessions can also be helpful during this time.
Every child is different. Some come for a short time to work through a particular difficulty, while others may benefit from longer-term support. We’ll have regular reviews to make sure therapy continues to feel helpful and appropriate.
The foundation of the work is always the relationship – building trust and creating a sense of safety so that the child feels secure enough to explore whatever they need to, in their own time. This can take time and will look different for each child, as trust tends to build gradually through the consistency of the relationship.