Child and adolescent difficulties I can support with:​

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• anxiety (generalised anxiety, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, separation anxiety, social anxiety, panic attacks)

• low mood

• self harm, suicidal ideation

• difficulties in managing emotions and relationships

• grief and loss

• difficulties in the family (eg parental separation, life changes, parental physical or mental health problems)

• mental health difficulties in children who are neurodiverse and/or have learning needs 

• mental health difficulties in children with chronic health conditions (eg cystic fibrosis, asthma, diabetes, cancer) and disabilities 

• tics

• behavioural difficulties

• sleep difficulties

• difficulties in school and school refusal/avoidance

• offending

• addictions (eg substances, videogames)

• eating difficulties

• self/body image difficulties

• low self esteem

• issues around identity

• traumatic experiences

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Child and adolescent psychotherapy​​​​​

From as early as infancy, children can find it difficult to adjust and manage their emotions.  These difficulties can affect all areas of their lives (eg home, school, friendships, interests) and limit their opportunities or impact on their health. 

 

Children find it easier to show what is bothering them through their behaviour,  instead of using their words and parents often report outbursts, eating or sleep difficulties, spending more time in their rooms, or an impact on learning. Children can also experience difficulties through their bodies, with tummy aches and headaches for example. Psychotherapists can function as a vessel that contains the intensity of primary child emotions without letting everything spill out. This can be offered through the safe space of the therapy room and the therapist's full attention. Together with the child, we start labeling how they are feeling and finding more helpful ways to manage difficult situations or emotions, replacing, this way, unhelpful coping mechanisms that may be in place. We use therapeutic play and stories to express what is on their minds. With parental consent, I can also get in touch with their school or other professionals who are supporting the child, in order to co-create ways to support them to reach their full potential.

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On the other hand, adolescents are on the precipice of adulthood not having left childhood yet. This life stage comes with biological and social changes that can impact on the rest of their lives. Around this time home rules start changing as well and this can cause tension in family relationships. The adolescent lives in the now and can be quite impulsive, which is due to the adolescent brain not being fully developed yet. However, in appearance adolescents may look quite mature and a lot of parents or other adults may develop expectations that the young person cannot fulfill. The psychotherapist can support the adolescent to take a step back and think, not just act. Therapy can offer a non judgmental and private space, where two minds can reflect on who the young person is and who they want to be, think about their relationships and what may have led to the more or less helpful behavioural patterns they employ.

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I have found that parent sessions can also be very helpful. They can focus on increasing parents' confidence on their parenting skills and realising that you are the specialists for your children, as you know them more than anyone. Based on your deep knowledge of your child and your observations, we can think about what you have already tried in order to support them, what works and what doesn't and try to add new ideas and tools in your kit.​​