A Space That Belongs To Them
Children are often surrounded by adults asking questions, giving advice or trying to find solutions.
Therapy offers something different.
It gives the child or young person a consistent space where they can begin to explore their own thoughts, feelings and experiences without pressure to explain everything immediately.
For some children, early sessions are mainly about getting comfortable, exploring the room and building trust. For others, there may be something they want to talk about straight away.
There is no expectation that every session should look the same.
The relationship, pace and way of working develop around the individual child.
Reasons A Child May Come To Therapy
Sometimes there is a clear reason for seeking support. Sometimes a parent simply knows that their child doesn't seem themselves.
- Anxiety, Fears Or Persistent Worries
- Low Mood Or Becoming Withdrawn
- Low Self-Esteem Or Lack Of Confidence
- Bereavement, Grief And Loss
- Difficult Or Traumatic Experiences
- Separation, Divorce Or Significant Family Change
- Friendship Problems, Rejection Or Bullying
- Difficulties Expressing Thoughts Or Feelings
- OCD, Intrusive Thoughts Or Repetitive Worries
- School Refusal Or Significant Anxiety Around School
- Emotional Distress Linked To ADHD Or Autism
- Feeling Different Or Struggling With Identity
More Than Just Talking
Children often communicate important things before they are able to explain them in words.
Talking is available in therapy, but it does not have to be the only way a child communicates.
A child may draw something, create a scene in the sandtray, tell a story, use figures, play a game or become interested in a particular image or object. These can give us another way of approaching experiences and emotions that are difficult to describe directly.
Younger children may naturally communicate more through play and creativity. Older children and teenagers may prefer conversation, or they may move between talking and creative approaches.
There is no requirement to be artistic and there is no right way to use the session.
The creative work is simply another language available to the child.
How Therapy Can Support Your Child
Therapy can give children and young people a space to better understand themselves, their feelings and what may be happening in their lives.
Depending on the child and what they are experiencing, therapy may help them to:
Recognise and understand their emotions
Find ways to express their feelings and communicate their needs
Develop confidence and self-esteem
Manage difficult emotions and situations
Understand relationships and friendships
Make sense of difficult experiences or changes
Develop greater self-awareness and resilience
Find ways of coping with challenges and managing difficulties
The aim isn’t to change who a child is. It is to help them develop a better understanding of themselves and find ways of managing what they are experiencing.
Send An Enquiry
The first step is a free initial telephone consultation.
You can tell me what you have noticed, what has changed and what you are concerned about. You do not need to know exactly what is causing the difficulty or what type of therapy your child needs.
I can explain how I work and answer any questions before you decide whether you would like to go further.
If we decide to proceed, the next stage is an initial parent/carer meeting where we can look at your child’s history, current circumstances and what has brought you to therapy in more detail.