Children and Young People
Counselling Children and Young People
Sometimes young people may be struggling with how they feel. They may be feeling anxious, depressed, angry, scared or confused. Their problems could range from friendship issues, family, school, issues around eating, social media and life in general and they may find it difficult to talk to people they know. So counselling can be one way where they can talk to someone they dont know, without feeling judged. Someone who can simply listen, support them and enable them to speak in confidence (unless they disclose that their personal safety or that of someone else is at risk).
The Counselling I offer also will use other forms of communication as I feel it's important to find what ways the young person would like to communicate in. If the young person doesn't want to talk or struggles to know how to define what is happening for them, there are other ways of exploring feelings, such as texting via Zoom chat or by Whasup, art work, meditation, drawing, clay modelling, therapeutic games, sandtray and dramatherapy.
As well as working through any issues the young person may have, I believe it's important to spend time getting to know the young person holistically, so that we can build on who they are, what interests them in life and what makes them tick. The Counselling space is not only used to work through their issues, but to help them develop as people, what are their strengths? What is going well or okay right now? I am interested in knowing all about the young people I work with, not just their issues/difficulties. And by using this to help build on creating resilience and coping strategies and of course helping the young person become independent and autonomous with their choices.
I am very keen for the young people I work with, to find their own tools, which they can also use once the therapy has ended, so in effect-tools for life!
I work with Children aged 11 and above covering a wide range of issues and specialising in Anxiety, Depression, Autism and ADHD. I also have extensive training with Mosaic in supporting Children with Pre-and Post Bereavement. I have flexible hours to suit and offer in person sessions, therapy online, by telephone, texting and walk and talk therapy.
My Experience
Most of my adult life has been spent working with children and young people so I have a good understanding about what makes them tick. I have also worked extensively with neurodivergent children and teens, having personal experience of this-having raised my now grown up autistic son and being neurodivergent myself.
In my Counselling with young people I may use play therapy, role play, sensory objects and sometimes CBT strategies to help them explore feelings and find ways to cope better.
It is very important for me to build up that trust and create an environment where your child feels safe.
© Reflection Counselling 2019