Child / Adolescent Counselling

Different methods of counselling may be used to encourage young children to be able to express their difficulties, such as play and art. For example, reading stories and talking about feelings of a character in that story may help the child to dicuss their own feelings, or drawing / painting / drama may help children to express themselves. These methods all give the counsellor a great insight into the unconscious mind of a child.

Counselling helps children to explore their feelings, express themselves and make sense of their life experience.

Children who may benefit from counselling

Children who find it difficult to acquire social skills; children with low self esteem, anxiety or sadness; children who have experienced loss through family breakdown or bereavement; children whose behaviours are motentially not safe or appropriate, and may be threatening.

Child counselling aims to help children cope better with their emotions, understand problems, develop necessary coping skills and make positive choices. During counselling children are encouraged to explore and express their feelings through one of many mediums depending on the child’s individual preference, e.g. artwork, painting, talking, telling stories or play.

Adolescent Counselling

Counselling helps teens explore their thoughts and emotions in a safe place without being judged.

Adolescents who may benefit from counselling are those experiencing difficulty with:

• Relationships: siblings, parents, friends & peers, teachers
• Low self esteem and confidence
• Bullying
• Bereavement & Loss
• Parents splitting up
• Self harm
• Alcohol & drugs
• Abuse & violence
• … or even just feeling fed up

Adolescent counselling aims to provide support on behalf of the young person and work with parents / guardians if necessary.

The counsellor can work in a variety of ways to help you express yourself – e.g. simply through talking, or using artwork. You will work together with your counsellor to find what suits you: sometimes you may just want to talk.

Sessions last for 45 minutes, and you can attend for as long or short a time as you want.

Initially four to six sessions is recommended, and may be extended following further consultations with all those involved.

Risk it,

Even small changes – take courage.

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