About my approach

Finding the right counsellor can be difficult, especially when it is not for yourself but for your child. This is why I feel it is so important that counselling is adapted to fit the individual and can be made accessible to all who need the support. Children can often struggle to verbalise what they are struggling with emotionally or what they are finding difficult. Often, children have yet to develop the language to express how they feel and, like adults, they can find talking about the issue directly too challenging. My approach to counselling is integrative which means I will draw on different skills and approaches based on the client. For example, I will use a Person-centred approach to develop a strong rapport between myself and the client. Sometimes I will incorporate creative and play-based methods, as in my experience as a counsellor I find this the most effective way of supporting children in talking about emotions and processing events. Through creative and play-based methods, children can then learn to identify emotions, process the past, and develop effective ways to manage and express themselves.

I am aware that it is a daunting prospect for both parents and children to enter counselling. It can be difficult for children to speak about their feelings and thoughts to someone new which is why I will always take the sessions at their pace. I believe building a trusting and honest relationship is a crucial aspect of counselling and giving children a safe, confidential space to feel able to fully express themselves.

I feel very passionately about children having their voices heard and having access to support so they can then develop the right tools to express themselves and build resilience to go forward. I have a calm, encouraging approach with children and incorporate sensory, creative and play activities into sessions.

Where I work

I work primarily in the Bognor Regis/Chichester area. I am happy to work within the child’s school or from a therapy room in Chichester. I am also happy to work within the child’s home if it is too difficult to deliver sessions at school or to travel to Chichester. These options can be discussed in-depth during the initial assessment to see what suits best.

How I work

I work by having an initial free 30-minute phone/zoom call with the parent to determine what the need for counselling is and to answer any questions about my practice. If the wish is to progress with the counselling, a face-to-face assessment is then booked with the Parent/Carer and child in attendance. Following the assessment, sessions can then be booked and therapy can begin.