Counselling for Young People — Find Out More

“Not” by Erin Hanson

You are not your age, 

Nor the size of clothes you wear, 

You are not a weight, 

Or the colour of your hair. 

You are not your name, 

Or the dimples in your cheeks, 

You are all the books you read, 

And all the words you speak, 

You are your croaky morning voice, 

And the smiles you try to hide,  You’re the sweetness in your laughter, 

And every tear you’ve cried, 

You’re the songs you sing so loudly, 

When you know you’re all alone, 

You’re the places that you’ve been to, 

And the one that you call home, 

https://www.magnific.com/author/maniacvector You’re the things that you believe in, 

And the people that you love, 

You’re the photos in your bedroom, 

And the future you dream of, 

You’re made of so much beauty, 

But it seems that you forgot, 

When you decided you were defined, 

By all the things you’re not.

My Work With Young People

Before opening my own practice in 2017, I spent 15 years working alongside young people in schools, community centres, alternative education, and specialist youth counselling services.

I know that building relationships with adults can feel tricky. It can feel like a massive leap to trust or open up to someone when you assume they won’t—or can't—truly get what you are going through.

What to expect if we work together:

• Your pace, your goals: We focus entirely on what you want to achieve.

• No "experts" here: I don’t tell people what to do, and I don't pretend to have all the answers.

• True listening: I focus on understanding things from your point of view.

• An outside perspective: This is a space to talk to someone outside of your everyday life, about whatever feels okay to share.

  
  

Trust takes time to build. By having a regular, reliable space with someone who is completely tuned in, accepting, and understanding, things can gradually begin to shift. This includes how you feel about yourself, how you handle relationships, your moods, your coping strategies, and your behaviour.

You don’t have to talk the whole time

Sometimes talking feels too difficult, or you might worry that you won't know what to say for a whole session. I completely understand this. Every time I meet someone new, it's a blank slate. We will work together to find a way to communicate that feels right for you.

It is never just about the words. Sometimes, simply getting yourself into the counselling room is the bravest and hardest part of the process.

Working without words: Sandplay & Creativity

If you are interested in a non-talking type of therapy, you might like to try Jungian Sandplay. Don't let the word "play" put you off—this isn't just for children, and it doesn't involve playing with toys. In Sandplay, you create visual scenes in a large sandbox using miniature figures and objects. The process is peaceful and grounding. The best part? You don’t need to explain or even fully understand the picture yourself for it to work on a deep, therapeutic level.

Other young people prefer working creatively using:

• Colour and art

• Collage work

• Image cards as visual conversation prompts

A flexible, comfortable space

My office is designed to feel comfortable and low-pressure. There are objects to look at and plenty of things to fidget with. We rarely sit directly facing each other, and there is always flexibility in how we spend our time.

Hopefully, this answers some of your questions about what counselling with me looks like.

Some other sources of help for young people which I can recommend are:

Childline | Childline 

Info, advice and support on many issues such as friends, bullying, family, health, sex, feelings, school

YoungMinds | Mental Health Charity For Children And Young People | YoungMinds

Advice and support for mental health and wellbeing

Start360 | How can we help you?

Support with health, drugs & alcohol, jobs

Hope Again Support for bereavement