Counselling For Young People (16+)

Being a young person can feel complicated. There can be pressure to know what you're doing with your life, keep up with school or university, navigate friendships and relationships, work out who you are and somehow look like you're coping while you're figuring it all out.

Maybe you're struggling with anxiety, low self-esteem or overthinking. Perhaps you're constantly comparing yourself to other people, finding it difficult to say no, or worrying about what everyone else thinks of you. Or maybe you can't quite put your finger on what's wrong. You just know that you're not feeling like yourself.

You might be wondering...

Why do I feel like I'm never good enough?
Why do I care so much about what other people think?
Why is it so difficult to say no?
Why do I feel anxious even when everything seems fine?
Why do I keep overthinking conversations and situations?
Why do I feel responsible for everyone else's feelings?
Why do I struggle to know what I actually want?
Why do I feel disconnected from myself?
Why can't I just be happy when things are going well?

Sometimes the ways we've learned to cope with difficult experiences can stay with us, even when those experiences are no longer happening.

Counselling can give you somewhere to slow things down and begin making sense of what's going on beneath the surface.

What counselling with me is like

My role isn't to tell you what to do or who you should be. Instead, we'll work together to understand what's going on for you, at a pace that feels manageable.

My approach is:

Warm and non-judgemental – you can talk openly without worrying about getting the "right" answer.
Collaborative – we'll work together rather than me telling you what you should do.
Curious – we'll gently explore where your thoughts, feelings and patterns come from.
Affirming – you don't have to change who you are to be worthy of support.
Led by you – we'll focus on what feels important to you.
Creative - if it's comfortable for you, we can incorporate creative activities to support you to express yourself.

Is counselling confidential?

What you talk about in counselling is generally private. I won't automatically share what you tell me with your parents, teachers, university or anyone else.

There are some important limits to confidentiality, particularly if I have serious concerns about your safety or someone else's safety. We'll talk about confidentiality and what it means before we begin so you know what to expect. You can ask me questions about this at any point.

If you're under 18, there are some additional considerations around consent, confidentiality and safeguarding. I'll explain these clearly when we first speak, so you understand how counselling will work and what to expect. My priority is creating a space where you can feel respected, listened to and taken seriously.

Interested in finding out if counselling could be right for you?

I offer a free 20-minute introductory call where we can talk about what you're looking for, ask any questions you have and see whether we'd be a good fit to work together.

E-mail to book a call