Clinical Consultancy, Training & Service Development
Individual Psychotherapy
I offer short-term and longer-term individual psychotherapy for children, adolescents and young adults up to the age of 25.
Sessions usually take place at the same time each week. Some children and young people may benefit from more than one session each week. The appropriate frequency and likely duration will be considered during the assessment.
When a child attends individual psychotherapy, regular reviews with parents or carers will usually form part of the work. These reviews focus on the child’s progress and wider needs while respecting the privacy of their individual sessions.
My Services
Parent and Carer Work
Parents and carers play an important role in supporting a child’s emotional development. Parent work offers a confidential space to think together about what may be happening beneath a child’s behaviour, including their feelings, relationships, development and ways of communicating distress.
It can also provide an opportunity to reflect on how a parent’s own experiences may shape how they understand and respond to their child. This is not about blame or judgement, but about developing a deeper understanding of the child, the parent and their relationship.
Parent work may be offered as a stand-alone intervention or alongside a child’s individual psychotherapy, helping parents feel better equipped to understand and respond to their child’s emotional needs.
Prenatal and Postnatal Work
Pregnancy and becoming a parent can bring significant emotional changes and may affect relationships and family life.
I offer a focused six-session intervention for expectant and new parents experiencing difficulties such as:
Adjusting to pregnancy or parenthood
Fear or difficult experiences of childbirth
Low mood or emotional overwhelm
Difficulties with bonding
Challenges settling or soothing a baby
Changes in relationships after having a baby
The work provides a confidential space to explore the emotional experience of pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent, including how earlier experiences may influence this transition.
Fathers, partners and couples are warmly welcomed. Longer-term support may also be considered where appropriate.
Early Years Intervention: Birth to Five Years
I offer therapeutic support for families with babies and children up to five who may be experiencing:
Sleep or settling difficulties
Separation anxiety or clinginess
Intense tantrums or emotional distress
Excessive crying or difficulty being soothed
Hair pulling or head banging
Toilet-training, soiling or constipation difficulties
Night terrors
Eating or feeding difficulties
Difficulties with attachment or bonding
The work aims to understand what may be underlying a child's difficulties and how these may relate to their relationships and emotional development.
Sessions may involve the child and parent/carer together, or parents/carers alone. The approach and length of support are tailored to each family.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy is a distinct, usually shorter-term approach.
It helps children, young people and families clarify what they hope will change and recognise the strengths, resources, relationships and abilities they can draw upon.
The work pays particular attention to previous successes, exceptions to the difficulty and signs that positive change may already be beginning.
Together, we identify meaningful and achievable steps towards the future the young person or family would prefer.
Consultations with Professionals
I offer consultation to professionals working with children and young people, including teachers, social workers, health visitors, doctors, nursery staff and youth workers.
Consultation provides a reflective space to think more deeply about a child or young person’s emotional experience, behaviour, relationships and development.
The aim is to help professionals understand the child’s perspective, consider what may be communicated through their difficulties and strengthen the support already in place.
Consultations may focus on a particular child, a complex professional situation or difficulties within the wider network supporting them.
Appropriate consent and confidentiality arrangements will be agreed before identifiable clinical information is discussed.
What to Expect
Initial Consultation
The first consultation is an opportunity to:
Discuss your concerns and what has led you to seek support
Consider your child’s development and family circumstances
Hear different perspectives within the family
Discuss the most appropriate form of support
For children, this will usually begin with parents or carers. Depending on age and needs, the child may also attend. Adolescents and young adults may attend independently.
Following the consultation, I will discuss my initial thoughts and recommendations. This may include:
Psychotherapy assessment
Parent work
Early years intervention
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
Another appropriate form of support
If I am not the right person to help, I will discuss alternative options with you.
Psychotherapy Assessment
An assessment usually takes four to six sessions and provides an opportunity to:
Understand the child or young person’s difficulties
Explore their experiences in a safe setting
Consider what type of support may be most helpful
Allow the child or young person to experience the therapeutic process
At the end of the assessment, recommendations and next steps will be discussed with the child, young person or family.
Confidentiality
Psychotherapy is private and confidential, allowing children and young people to explore difficult thoughts and feelings safely.
Session content is not routinely shared with parents, carers or other professionals
Confidentiality may need to be broken if there is a significant risk of harm
Information may also need to be shared where required by law or professional obligations
Where possible, I will discuss this with you beforehand
Beginning Therapy
If therapy is agreed:
Sessions will usually take place at a regular weekly time
Fees and frequency will be agreed beforehand
Confidentiality and its limits will be explained
Parent reviews and communication will be discussed
Arrangements for missed sessions and holidays will be agreed
Progress will be reviewed regularly
Face-to-Face Appointments
Face-to-face appointments take place at the Zellig building in Birmingham.
Please arrive shortly before your appointment
Wait in the reception area
I will meet you at the agreed time and accompany you to the therapy room
Please avoid arriving significantly early unless this has been arranged
Parent & Carer Reviews
Parent or carer reviews usually form part of individual child and adolescent psychotherapy.
These provide an opportunity to:
Discuss progress and emotional development
Share relevant changes at home, school or within the family
Consider how best to support the child
The detailed content of therapy sessions remains private. Reviews instead focus on broader themes, progress and support needs.
The level of parental involvement will depend on the child’s age and individual circumstances.
Supporting Your Child
Children may feel anxious before therapy or need time to settle afterwards.
Parents can help by:
Being available without pressuring their child to talk
Asking a simple question such as “How did it go?”
Allowing the child to decide how much they want to share
Avoiding repeated or detailed questions about the session
Keeping the time after therapy calm and allowing space to settle
If you have concerns about your child’s wellbeing or safety, please contact me so we can consider what support may be needed.