Psychotherapy Sessions

I offer psychotherapy sessions for children and young people aged 4 - 24 years old. Each 50-minute session takes place weekly either online or in a comfortable face-to-face setting. The room we meet in will be equipped for creative and play therapy however there is no pressure to use and engage with these. My approach depends greatly on your child’s age, particular needs and circumstances.

To Begin

I offer a free initial short phone call so that we can discuss your concerns and the type of support you are looking for. If we decide to move forward, I will arrange to meet with you for a 50 minute initial consultation to discuss how I can best support your child. With adolescents, we may agree for them to meet with me on their own from the start.

Initial Consultation

This 50 minute initial consultation is solely with parents/ carers and aims to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current situation of your child. During this session I will discuss how I work and you are able to ask any questions you may have about the therapeutic process.

The First Session

This first session with the child can be by themselves or partly with the parents/carers, should the child wish. I will utilise techniques from play and creative therapy to help give your child the opportunity to explore and express their current circumstances. Together, we will establish a therapeutic contract which covers important considerations such as confidentiality and safety. This will be in an age-appropriate way and will help to create boundaries and feelings of security from the very start of the work. At the end of this session the child can decide with their parent or carer whether they would like to have weekly sessions. I work in this way so that the child has the opportunity to meet me, understand what psychotherapy is and then decide whether they consent to the process of weekly sessions.

Ongoing Sessions

Should both the parent/ carer and the child consent to the therapeutic sessions taking place, we will move forward with six sessions. Following these, I will meet with the parent/carer either online or in-person, and we can check in and decide whether to continue or work towards an ending. Each child is unique and so the amount of sessions needed will vary. Together, we will decide on the most suitable plan of action for your child. Throughout the process I work closely with you to discuss your child’s progress, while upholding confidentiality.

Creative Play

Children and young people can find it difficult to engage in the more traditional ‘talking therapy’. I use a range of creative methods to help them express themselves in a way that feels safe and comfortable. Children naturally use play and art as a language and so offering this in a therapeutic space allows for a gentle, alternative way to explore their feelings, thoughts and behaviours. As a practicing artist, I strongly believe in the power of the creative arts as a way for young people to ‘move through’ difficult feelings and experiences.

I therefore have a variety of mediums available in my toolkit, such as:

• Clay

• Drawing and painting

• Puppets

• Storytelling and creative writing

• Sand

• Drama

• Movement and bodywork

• Collage