The best person to support your child is usually you.
Children and young people, if they feel seen, heard, safe & secure, will usually navigate their way through childhood up’s & downs naturally. It is normal for children to experience episodes of anxiety for example as they face new challenges or go through changing times. It can be really worrying for parents/carers however, if your child becomes regularly unhappy, distressed in some way and becomes withdrawn in a way that means they are hard to reach or help. When a young person is struggling, it is common for them to fear they will disappoint their parents and find it is too difficult to share what is troubling them.
Is Counselling/Support appropriate ?
Sometimes things also get in the way of us feeling able to provide support for children and so it can be useful to consider getting you, or your child, some help put in place. Starting with yourself is usually an advantage to both you and your child. Some people attend for some short term work to help address how they respond to their child or reflect on how their own parenting affects their way of being as a parent. Occasionally it is the child themselves seeking or needing individual support and so benefit by having an alternative space where they can feel safe to be themselves.
To be understood is to belong ~ Cassandra Clare
Therapeutic support for young people
Young person centred counselling offers a confidential space for young people to feel listened to and understood as they navigate adolescence. It is often a struggle to put into words what is difficult, so creative ways of working can be especially helpful to the younger client to help them express what is troubling them. Sometimes more practical help is also needed like psychoeducation on managing mental and emotional health. Tailoring the therapy to the young person in a way that is comfortable and useful is fundamental to my approach.
Starting a process . . .
The initial assessment process is about exploring whether referring your child to counselling is appropriate, for example if they would have motivation to attend and what it is you and they hope can be gained from the process.
Getting some professional help put in place is often uncomfortable for young people, but should involve them wherever possible. It is important to discuss with your child if you feel they might benefit from some support and introduce the idea, so they can ask questions and decide if they are ready. It is not within my therapeutic approach to encourage young people to attend counselling when it is not conducive to their psychological well being.
My experiential way of working offers a relational space where we are encouraged to keep ourselves safe, build a rapport and benefit ultimately from a therapeutic process that puts the young persons needs and choices at its’ heart. It is important to consider if you are in a position to fund the gradual nature of the therapeutic process, as opening up and feeling able to address issues for many young people can often be a delicate process that takes time.
Interactive Play Therapy for younger clients
Children who find it difficult to share or let someone in to help, can benefit from not being expected to talk or explain their feelings but be helped to express themselves. The process occurs through a combination of interactive play therapy, games, creative materials and the development of a trusting relationship with the practitioner. This often helps a child restore self esteem, connect in other relationships and learn to ask for the help they need. The therapeutic process can help the young client build resilience and feel accepted for who they are.
“Very helpful with feedback given – good idea. Relaxed atmosphere. Child enjoyed the visits.”
“Helpful and Informative. My child has felt the sessions were helpful and positive.“
Initial assessment session ~
Following a discussion, typically by phone, we agree to arrange an initial assessment session with the child or young person and you as the referring person are usually encouraged to attend this first appointment. This is to support the young person to attend, understand together the reason for referring them and together we can agree on the counselling contract and confidentiality policy together.
Thereafter in order to promote the young person’s autonomy we aim for the therapist and young person to begin working together on their own as soon as possible. Regular reviews will be part of an ongoing process with the young person. If the young person is willing, the therapist will seek to have outcomes of any reviews shared with the parents, by empowering the young person to report back themselves. If consent is given, sometimes a parent is invited to attend a review if the young person is willing to meet together.
The review includes deciding if the young person would like to continue coming, how they feel they are being helped and what more, if any they might like to do. It is thus important to consider if pursuing a referral to a private therapist is affordable, as the building of the therapeutic relationship sometimes needs to be a gradual one.
Occasionally the therapist will make a recommendation that another professional or agency may be more appropriate for the child or young person and will support you to consider other possibilities for getting support.
Click here to view the Consent Forms for children and young people for more information, Terms of Service & Data Protection information.
Testimonials
Receiving independent, neutral counselling helped our daughter work out coping strategies for the many & various stresses of being a teenager
Parents referred by professional
Blossie has really helped me to understand myself & unpick my thoughts/feelings & work through this, allowing me to move on to a happier, more comfortable place. And to know it is okay not to be okay.
Young person 17+