What to Expect

My Approach

I practice with a combination of my youth work and coaching practices with counselling skills. It is caring, respectful and non-judgemental. I work in a collaborative and adaptive way with a young person through games, craft, activities and discussions to support them best, giving them a holistic and tailor-made approach, to meet your young person’s individual needs. I also draw upon a range of other different theories and practices including but not limited too: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Trauma Informed Practice, Mindfulness, Youth Work, Scouting and Play Therapy.

Sessions are relaxed and informal and centre around the young person, their interests, building of life skills and our common goal. Learning is informal and engagement from the young person is voluntary – meaning I work hard to make sessions interactive, enjoyable and informative. I have music playing (This is dependant on the young person and their wants and needs). I find this way of working works well for children and young people that find it hard to relax or engage in formal settings such as school or traditional counselling. The consultation, the initial session and pay as you go sessions are no obligation to continue which means if your young person feels the sessions are not for them there is no need to continue. I understand how hard it is to make such an investment when your young person may not be ready to take that step.

Your young person will also come home with lots of the items we make or use used during sessions. As well as (if relevant) signposting. Examples of items that can go home with your young person are: positivity jar, getting to know activities, small coping strategies and items, worksheets, crafts that we have done in sessions, information sheets, a young persons own made versions of activities/games we have done during sessions to enjoy from home.

Everything I do is packed full of informal learning. A simple activity has so many opportunities for informal learning!

Areas Covered

Here are some of the areas of concern/what your young person would like to work on and have goals on:

  • Self esteem
  • Life Skills – including and not limited to cooking, finance, safety and first aid.
  • Exam preparation, stress and revision timetable planning
  • NEETS (Not in Education, Employment or Training)
  • Internet safety
  • Bullying
  • Mentoring
  • Relationships
  • Resilience building
  • Building coping strategies
  • Alternative Education for Young People out of School
  • Sexual Education and Sexual Health
  • LGBTQIA
  • Body image
  • Social skills building
  • Mindfulness
  • Anxiety
  • OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder)
  • Knife Crime
  • Drugs
  • Alternative Learning

Please note: This is not an exhaustive list. All these areas I have previously worked sucessfully with young people. If your particular concern is not listed or you are worried about whether your young person is a good fit, please get in touch and we can arrange a FREE 15 minute consultation to discuss.