For young people who need space to talk, or space to "just be"
Person Centred Counselling for Children and Young People
As a parent or carer, it can be difficult to know how best to support a child or young person who is struggling.Counselling can offer them a space that is separate from home and school, where they can begin to make sense of their thoughts and feelings.Sessions are confidential, with clear safeguarding boundaries, and you will be supported in understanding how the process works.
My mission and values for Children and Young People
At the heart of this work is a belief that every young person deserves to feel heard, understood, and supported.
My work, offers the opportunity to explore feelings, build confidence, and begin to make sense of their experiences in a way that feels right for them.
Alongside this, parents, carers, and professionals can feel more supported in how they walk alongside the young people in their lives.
No young person should feel alone with their mental health.
Some of the things young people bring to counselling
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Anxiety and worry
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Low mood or feeling overwhelmed
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Friendships and school pressures
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Family changes or separation
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Bereavement and loss
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Neurodivergence (autism, ADHD)
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Feeling different or misunderstood
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Confidence and self-esteem
How sessions may look
When a young person feels safe enough to be themselves, that’s where real change begins.
Sessions don’t have to be just talking. For many children and young people, it can take time to feel safe enough to trust the space, and there is no expectation to open up before they are ready.
The work is child-led, meaning we follow their pace, their way of expressing themselves, and what feels most manageable for them in each moment. This might look different week to week, and that’s okay.
For some, talking comes more easily over time. For others, we might use creative approaches such as drawing, writing, or simple activities as a way of exploring what’s going on underneath the surface. These can offer a gentler, less pressured way of expressing thoughts and feelings that are not always easy to put into words.
Building a therapeutic relationship is at the heart of the work, and this takes time. Rather than rushing towards change, we create the conditions where a young person can begin to feel understood, develop trust, and explore their experiences in a way that feels safe and sustainable for them.
What my work involves (and what it doesn’t).
Counselling for children and young people is not about directing them towards a particular outcome or asking them to meet expectations set by others.
Sessions are not led by parent or carer agendas, but instead centre the young person’s experience, pace, and readiness.
This is not a quick or solution-focused process. There may not be a clear end point or defined goal, as the work unfolds naturally over time.
Rather than focusing on “fixing” or changing behaviour, the emphasis is on building a trusting therapeutic relationship where a young person can begin to feel safe, understood, and able to explore what is important to them.
My background and experience
When a young person feels safe enough to be themselves, that’s where real change begins.
For many years, I have worked alongside children, young people and families in a variety of settings, including youth work, education, training and counselling.
Throughout this time, I have supported young people facing a wide range of challenges, including emotional difficulties, self-harm, bereavement, family changes, low self-esteem, anxiety, and the pressures that can come with growing up in today's world.
My experience has taught me that young people are not problems to be solved. Often, they are doing the very best they can with what they are carrying. Having a space where they feel heard, understood and accepted can make a real difference.
Alongside my counselling work, I have experience within secondary schools and have worked with professionals and organisations supporting children and families. This has given me an understanding of some of the wider pressures young people may be navigating, both inside and outside of school.
I have also completed bereavement training with Penhaligon's Friends and continue to volunteer in supporting children and young people affected by loss.
Alongside my professional experience, I bring personal insight into autism and ADHD. This helps me work in a way that is neuro-affirming, respectful and responsive to each young person's individual experience.
Above all, I aim to offer a warm, supportive space where children and young people can be themselves, explore what matters to them, and know that they do not have to face things alone.