Counselling for Young People
One of my main interests and a large proportion of my work is working with young people. I have many years of experience of coaching young people through my other arm of work (www.kidsmindskills.co.uk) and I am also able to offer counselling for those who need a different therapeutic approach.
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Young people are having a very tough time at the moment and finding a safe place to explore their often scary feelings is very important.
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“Counselling for young people and adults can be a life-changing experience”
This is how the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) describes the benefits of counselling.
'Counselling for young people and adults helps people to manage difficult life problems. If you’ve had a traumatic experience, are coping with grief, depression or anxiety, or struggling to manage self-destructive behaviours and emotions, counselling could be the support you need.'
What is happening to our kids?
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The facts speak for themselves and are really scary:-
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30% of tweens (10-12 year olds) experience headaches and difficulty sleeping as a result of stress.
25% of children age 13-18 experience anxiety disorders and 10% are diagnosed with depression before the age of 18.
The good news is that with ‘early support’ children can learn how to manage their emotions and feelings and learn how to bounce back from disappointments and learn how to overcome the challenges they will face as they go through their lives.
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The WHO (World Health Organisation) reported that depression is “the predominant cause of illness and disability” for children age 10 – 19 years old worldwide.
Even more scary is that the report found that suicide to be the third leading cause of adolescent deaths behind traffic accidents and HIV/AIDS
Regardless of where you come from children are struggling with how they feel about themselves on a day to day basis.
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The stress kids are feeling today is reaching epidemic proportions – helping kids learn to be their ‘best self’ in difficult situations can reduce anxiety. Quick thoughtless reactions to emotional triggers, can often lead to undesirable outcomes. By pausing to observe and among their own reactions, children are better able to respond effectively to challenges and be their ‘best selves’ in all situations.
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The fact is that our children are experiencing stress more so than ever before and we need to acknowledge this and help them. There are the pressures of school, exams and peer pressure. Plus children feel their parents’ stress (or that of any adults around them) and they learn from adults how to cope (or not to cope) with stress.
As adults we can often find it hard to admit if we’re stressed as society has a way of encouraging us to just ignore it and keep going, regardless. Many of us live with daily worrying thoughts or a constant feeling of anxiety. If we are not careful, this can quickly tip us into a long-term stress state and it is often not until we are at the point of collapse that we start to pay any attention to the signs and to the need to do something about it.
I work face to face or online with young people. After a initial consultation with the parents I see the young people individually and encourage them to use the space to focus on, identify and work towards addressing their own needs. As my work is client led, I see treat each client individually and purely focus on what they bring to sessions and am there to support, listen and attend to the young person independently. I am able to refer parents towards their own support should they feel they also need. I do not work for the parents' agenda but I am focused on the young person as my client .
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My belief in the power of the therapeutic relationship is the backbone of all my work and it is pivotal to any work with young people. Building this is an essential process of the work and patience is key in allowing it to develop so that there is a safe and reliable pace in which the young person can feel heard and able to speak without fear of judgement.
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Therapy is a process, which relies heavily on building a trusting relationship between therapist and client. The main focus of this work is to support and prepare each young person for the next stages of their life as they move forwards. Allowing space and time for them to explore and share their concerns and fears.
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Therapists who work with children have the difficult task of protecting the child/adolescents right to privacy while at the same time respecting the parent’s or guardian’s right to information.
Therapy is most effective when a trusting relationship exists between therapist and client. Privacy is especially important in securing and maintaining that trust. One aim of treatment may be to promote a stronger and better relationship between children/adolescents and their parents. However, it is often necessary for the child/adolescent to develop a “zone of privacy” whereby they feel free to discuss personal matters with greater freedom. This is particularly true for adolescents who are naturally developing a greater sense of independence and autonomy.
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The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.
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Examples of some of the areas I've worked with, relating to young people:
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Anxiety/panic attacks
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​Phobias
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder/Intrusive thoughts
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Low mood/depression
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Eating Disorders/Disordered eating
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Exam stress
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Perfectionism
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Trauma
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Bullying
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Self Harm
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Family and/or relationship difficulties
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Divorce
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Bereavement
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Low self esteem/confidence
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Social anxiety
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Managing Change
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ADHD/ADD