What to expect

We may begin with a short introductory phone call so that you can tell me a little about what is happening and we can think about whether I may be the right person to help your child and family.

If we decide to go ahead, the next step is an initial parent or carer consultation. This gives me time to understand your child or young person more fully, including their development, relationships, experiences and what life is currently like for them. These are held online.

Therapy takes place at the same time each week. A regular and predictable space is an important part of building trust and a sense of safety within the therapeutic relationship.

There is no set length of therapy. Some children and young people need a relatively contained period of support, while others benefit from longer-term work.

Rather than working towards a fixed number of sessions or trying to change particular behaviours, I review the work thoughtfully over time and consider what feels appropriate for the individual child or young person.

Parents and carers are an important part of the process, particularly when I am working with younger children.

I arrange regular parent review meetings where we can think together about how things are going, what you are noticing at home or school, and anything that may be important for me to know.

I do not give a detailed account of what happens in a child's therapy sessions. Having a space that feels private and their own is an important part of developing trust.

It is usually best not to question your child about what they have done or talked about in a session.

Some children will want to share and others will not. Giving them the freedom to decide what they tell you helps the therapy room remain a space that belongs to them.

You can always contact me separately if there is something you are concerned about.

That is absolutely fine.

There is no right way to use therapy. One child may spend much of a session playing, while another might draw, create, move, talk or simply spend time becoming comfortable in the room.

With older children and adolescents, sessions may be much more conversational, creative or reflective.

What a child or young person shares in therapy is treated with respect and confidentiality.

There are limits to confidentiality. Where I am concerned about their safety or the safety of someone else. If I need to involve a parent, carer or another professional, I will approach this sensitively and, wherever possible, talk with the young person about it first.

It is important that adolescents have some choice and agency about coming to therapy and their therapist.

A young person does not need to arrive feeling enthusiastic or knowing what they want to talk about. It is quite normal to feel unsure. What matters is that they have the opportunity to meet me, understand what therapy involves and have some say in whether it feels right for them