Psychotherapy for Young People
Adolescence is a time of intense emotional and physical change. Teenagers often face pressures around identity, friendships, school, and family life, and these can sometimes lead to distress or behaviours that feel difficult to understand, overwhelming, upsetting or confusing. Some young people may feel particularly stuck, have suffered trauma and/or suffer from low self esteem.
Psychotherapy offers a confidential space where young people can think about what they’re experiencing and begin to make sense of it. Through regular therapy sessions, I work with young people to develop a deeper understanding of themselves and their feelings. Therapy various for each young person. Some benefits may be to find healthier coping mechanisms, feel more autonomous, more resilient, improve relationships with friends and family, and support a growing sense of individuality and empowerment.
My core training is psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This means that I try to understand the underlying emotional experiences that may be contributing to difficulties. I also draw on other therapeutic approaches such as CBT, systemic therapy and compassion-focussed therapy. See more details about these approaches in the more info tab.
Therapy is adapted and tailored to each young person and depending on preferences may involve talking, art making creating art or creative activities, using instruments, using sensory equipment or simply having a consistent safe space to talk.
I can help with the following:
Low mood and depression
Developmental trauma/FASD/experiences of abuse and neglect
Difficulties with sleeping and eating
Healing from traumatic experiences
Navigating grief and loss
Anxiety
Friendship difficulties
Lack of confidence/self-esteem
The impact of neurodiversity
Behaviour that feels challenging or confusing to yourself or others
Problems controlling anger
Family relationship difficulties
Emotional regulation challenges
Behavioural difficulties
School stress and emotional overwhelm