How Can Therapy Help?

Teenagers can experience difficulties for many different reasons, and sometimes there isn't one obvious cause.

Therapy can provide a space to explore what is happening beneath the surface while developing practical strategies to cope.

Some of the issues I support adolescents with include:

• Anxiety and excessive worry
• Social anxiety and fear of judgement
• Panic attacks
• Stress and overwhelm
• Low mood
• Low self-esteem and self-worth
• Perfectionism
• Academic and school pressures
• Bullying and peer relationships
• Social media pressures
• Family and relationship difficulties
• Withdrawal and isolation
• Difficulties with motivation and procrastination
• Body image and self-confidence
• Life changes and uncertainty about the future
• Trauma and difficult experiences
• Emotional regulation difficulties
• Unhelpful coping strategies
• Exploring identity and relationships

Every teenager is different, and therapy is adapted to their individual circumstances, developmental stage and needs.

A Safe and Supportive Environment

For therapy to be helpful, a teenager needs to feel that they can be themselves.

Building trust and a strong therapeutic relationship is therefore at the heart of my work with adolescents. I aim to create a space where young people feel listened to, respected and taken seriously, without judgement.

Sometimes simply having an adult who listens and genuinely tries to understand can be incredibly powerful.

I also recognise that it can take time for a young person to feel comfortable in therapy. There is no expectation that they have to immediately talk about everything that is troubling them.

Sometimes connection comes first. The conversation can develop from there.

Finding Connection With Other Young People

Sometimes individual therapy isn't the only support a young person needs.

Many teenagers feel lonely, struggle to make friendships or feel that they don't quite fit in. I am also developing small groups and community programmes where young people can meet others, share experiences and develop a greater sense of connection and belonging.

For some neurodivergent young people in particular, meeting others who understand similar experiences can be incredibly valuable.