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.
