Frequently Asked Questions

It can be very difficult for parents or carers to witness their child or young person struggling with difficult feelings, especially when they might also be unsure of how to help them. Psychotherapy can help children and young people to make sense of sad, angry, painful or confusing feelings and thoughts, but making the decision to seek help can stir up complex and difficult feelings and it is likely that you will have questions and concerns about psychotherapy. I am happy to discuss whether psychotherapy might help in your unique situation, however the following FAQs might answer some of the more common queries.

Why psychotherapy?

Psychotherapy can have a beneficial effect on relationships with peers and family and on behaviour, as children become less preoccupied. Most children and young people can then make better use of opportunities, whether that is at school, college or in a workplace.

Without treatment, some children and young people react to people or situations in ways they don’t understand and can’t control, causing distress for themselves and others. These patterns may also put them at risk of more serious mental illnesses in adulthood.

Psychotherapists accredited to work with children are trained to help them understand feelings that are not possible to speak out loud. This is achieved through the use of play, drawing, close and careful observation and talking about events and experiences. 

Who is it for?

I work with individual children, young people and their families. This includes parent/s with babies or very young children, and young people under 25. Sometimes it may be helpful for me to work with parents or carers, or support sessions may be offered alongside a child’s therapy. Each family will have specific requirements, and these will be discussed at the initial phone or video call.

What can psychotherapy help with?

Psychotherapy can help when psychological or emotional difficulties have been going on for some time or are quite severe. It is also an option when everybody is confused about the problem, and nobody fully understands the child’s difficulty. 

Psychotherapy can help with a range of issues including:

Sometimes the child or young person may be reacting to life events which everyone knows about, or it may be that difficulties have started without any obvious cause. 

Psychotherapy can help children to deal with learning and physical disabilities. I have considerable experience working with children with diagnoses such as ADHD and those on the autistic spectrum.

Psychotherapy for young people
Psychotherapy can help to understand and support the experiences of adolescence and early adulthood. This developmental stage is often confusing and painful, and sometimes feelings from earlier difficult or traumatic experiences can be unexpectedly stirred up. Understanding the roots of this anxiety and distress, within the safety of a therapeutic relationship can support personal growth and the necessary process of becoming individual and autonomous.

How do we begin?

After an initial brief phone or video call, I will send you a referral form which requests some basic information about the child or young person and the problem, and a therapy agreement which describes the service I can offer. This will be followed by a 50 minute consultation appointment. We can decide together whether this appointment is attended by parents with or without your child or young person, or by the young person alone. This appointment gives everyone the chance to think about the problem and decide whether psychotherapy might be helpful. The next three weekly appointments will usually be attended by just the child or young person, unless they are very young. These appointments allow for an exploration and assessment of the problems.

Decisions about what to do following the assessment appointments are reached by talking with parents and the child, or young person. It is important that everyone understands the reasons for a treatment plan and agree with it.

How long will it take?

Psychotherapy can last from a few sessions or continue over a much longer term.

Sometimes a few sessions can resolve things. Sometimes it takes longer. Once therapy has begun, I will have a review with parents or young person (over 18) once a term to discuss progress.

What will the sessions be like?

Individual therapy sessions last for 50 minutes.

Children are usually seen on their own in sessions. Older children and young people are usually able to talk about their difficulties, whilst younger children can play or draw in sessions. 

We will set a regular time in the same room each week. Although we may need to change this on occasion, changes are kept to a minimum as a predictable routine supports the work. 

This predictability is an important part of establishing an emotionally containing relationship in which the child or young person’s own view of the world can be expressed and thought about.

Is it effective?

Psychotherapy sometimes makes a difference very quickly. However, in addition to alleviating unwanted symptoms, the work aims to help children and young people make better use of their future opportunities and form enriching and helpful relationships. 

In very young children, the work aims to restore a healthy developmental path. 

Research shows that psychotherapy is particularly effective in the treatment of depression, anxiety or behaviour disorders, and developmental disorders. There is evidence of good outcomes for children who have suffered deprivation and neglect. 

Improvements have been found to be sustained or increased in the long term. 

Are there risks or side effects?

In any psychological treatment there is a possibility of feeling worse before you feel better. Behaviour can become worse in the short term, before it improves. 

This can happen for a number of reasons. Children and young people sometimes find that sessions stir up unwelcome feelings, thoughts and memories. This can make them dismissive, critical of their therapist or even not want to attend therapy sessions. 

Children often work hard during treatment and this can take a lot of emotional energy. Most children, including those who are negative about therapy, become attached to the work and find holiday breaks or cancelled sessions difficult. 

Alternatives 

Psychotherapy is not for everyone. There is a range of alternative treatments available which may alleviate symptoms or restore a healthy developmental path. 

The consultation and assessment sessions are used to explore whether psychotherapy might be helpful and whether it is a treatment which parents, carers, children and young people will engage in and be supportive of.

In some cases, I may be able to assist with alternative plans such as consulting with staff about school-based interventions or assisting with referrals to alternative support services.

Questions or worries

If any questions or worries arise outside of the termly review meetings, please email me to arrange a telephone conversation.