Young People
I understand that therapy can be intimidating and even scary for young people. That’s why I take the time to get to get to know you and build a relationship before we start any therapeutic process. I believe in working together towards your goals, while making sure you feel listened to and taken seriously.
I am dedicated to providing a safe and supportive environment for young people, so you can work on the difficulties that are important to you. I am committed to helping you reach your full potential and feel empowered to make the changes you want to make.
A bit more about how I may be able to help...
I offer a range of services to support your mental, emotional and physical wellbeing. I have over 20 years of experience working with young people and I appreciate that you might not always feel listened to, or taken seriously; I also understand that adults and professionals may have let you down in the past. I have worked with so many young people who have felt as though mental health support has been 'done to them' and they have felt as though they have had little or no choice in accessing support. If you do feel ready for support, and this is your choice, please know that support is available and you don't have to suffer alone. We can arrange a telephone or video call, whichever feels more comfortable for you, and you can decide if you think we could work well together.
In my experience, the most common difficulties I see young people struggling with are: low self confidence; anxiety (always thinking or feeling like something bad is going to happen); exam pressure; social anxiety (worrying about what other people think and finding it difficult to speak to people); OCD (unpleasant, scary and unwanted thoughts); panic; specific phobias; overthinking and racing thoughts and perfectionism (having very high standards for yourself, which you just can't seem to reach). Maybe you recognise one of these and feel ready to talk about it.
I have also worked a lot of people with autistic and ADHD traits. Some have had a diagnosis and some have suspected they may need further assessment. I have helped many young people in accessing referrals for specialist assessments and tailored support to meet their individual needs.
Your caregivers, whether that's your parents or carers, play an important role in your therapy; however, I would always talk to you, if I felt we needed to share information with your parents or other professionals, such as your doctor. I am open and honest abut information sharing, as your safety and wellbeing is my priority.
If you'd like to find out more, you can ask your parent or carer to contact me and we can arrange to have a chat.
