Therapy for Young People Aged 13 and Over​​

 

I offer counselling and psychotherapy for young people aged 13 and over, providing a space where you can talk about what's happening in your life without feeling that you have to get everything right or have all the answers. You might find it easier to talk about what's happening at school, difficulties with friends or things that are going on at home. Or perhaps you want to explore feelings that are harder to explain, questions about who you are, or worries that you've been keeping to yourself. My aim is to offer a supportive, respectful space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings at your own pace. You won't be expected to have everything figured out, and you don't need to pretend that things are okay when they aren't.​

 

What Might Bring a Young Person to Therapy?

There are lots of reasons why a teenager might seek counselling or psychotherapy. You may recognise some of the experiences below, or you may be dealing with something completely different.

• Anxiety and worry: Feeling overwhelmed by school, exams, friendships, family expectations or worries about the future. You might find yourself overthinking conversations, anticipating the worst or struggling to switch off.

• Low mood and loneliness: Feeling sad, empty, disconnected or unlike yourself. You may have lost interest in things you used to enjoy or find it difficult to explain why you're feeling low.

• Friendships and relationships: Struggling to make friends, feeling left out, dealing with arguments or navigating the complexities of changing relationships.

• Bullying and feeling different: Experiencing bullying, exclusion, judgement or pressure to behave in ways that don't feel authentic to you.

• Family difficulties: Finding it difficult to communicate with parents or carers, feeling caught between different expectations, or dealing with changes and tensions at home.

• Identity and belonging: Exploring who you are, where you fit in and how you want others to see you. This might include questions about gender, sexuality, neurodivergence or other aspects of your identity.

• Anger and difficult emotions: Feeling frustrated, irritable or overwhelmed, struggling to express what you're experiencing, or finding that emotions sometimes become too difficult to manage.

• Trauma, loss and bereavement: Making sense of painful experiences, changes, grief or events that continue to affect how you feel and relate to others.

• Pressure and expectations: Feeling that you have to achieve, please other people, keep up or meet standards that leave you exhausted or worried about getting things wrong.​

 

You don't need to identify with any particular category to come to therapy. Sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing that something doesn't feel right. Therapy can offer an opportunity to explore these experiences without judgement. We can think about what makes relationships feel difficult, what you need from other people, and how you might feel more comfortable being yourself.​​​

 

What Happens in Therapy?

Starting therapy can feel daunting, especially if you've never spoken to a therapist before. You might worry about what you'll be asked, whether you'll know what to say, or whether talking about difficult things will make you feel worse.You don't need to prepare a list of problems or explain everything straight away. We can take time to get to know each other and work out what feels comfortable for you. You can talk about what's happening in your life, explore feelings that are difficult to understand, or begin with something small that has been on your mind.My approach is collaborative and creative. Rather than assuming I know what's best for you, I want to understand your experiences and what you need. Therapy isn't about turning you into someone else or making you fit other people's expectations. It's about giving you space to understand yourself, explore what's difficult and consider what might help you feel more supported.

 

​Confidentiality and Involving Parents or Carers

If you're thinking about therapy, you might wonder what will happen to the things you talk about and whether your parents or carers will be told everything you say. Confidentiality is an important part of building trust in therapy, particularly for young people. Before we begin, we can talk clearly about how confidentiality works, what information may be shared and the circumstances in which I may need to share it.Where parents or carers are involved in arranging or supporting therapy, it's important to consider everyone's needs while respecting the young person's privacy and developing independence. These arrangements can be discussed openly before therapy begins, so that you know what to expect.

 

​Taking the First Step

If you're a young person considering therapy, or a parent or carer looking for support for a teenager, you're welcome to get in touch to ask questions and find out more about how I work.We can discuss what's happening, what support might be appropriate and whether working together feels like the right fit.