How I Work

As a Child Psychotherapist, the way I work is based on my belief that our behaviour is an expression of how we feel. When we are happy we tend to be more sociable, but when we feel overwhelmed or distressed and unable to talk about how we feel, we express our feelings through our behaviour.  

The way I work ‘listens’ to this behaviour and helps to make the ‘unspeakable’ something that can be known, shared and talked about.

This involves:

  • Non-judgmentally, thinking about the full context of the current problem. 

  • Being aware of the emotions (awoken, stirred, provoked) in response to the situation and the impact this has on the body’s physiology and resultant behaviour.

  • The use of symbolism and metaphor, because sometimes it can be really difficult to talk directly about feelings that are overwhelming. Play, painting, music and poetry are all examples of providing an indirect way of expressing what feels “unspeakable”.

  • Establishing a therapeutic relationship to contain the feelings expressed, so that we find a way to talk about feelings.

  • At the heart of my work is my commitment to supporting children, young people and those who care for them. By developing a shared understanding of the young person’s difficulties and a healthier way of relating to each other. Both adults and children come to see each other in a different way and this is reflected in behaviour.

What to Expect From Child Therapy

first stepS: Consultation and assessment

First steps involve a consultation where we can discuss the context of the current difficulties and begin to think together about what factors may be contributing to the situation. Following a consultation, we may decide on an assessment.

This will enable me to see if your child is able to make use of this way of working and also for you and your child to see if you are comfortable working with me. At the end of the assessment, together we would decide on how to proceed.

therapy session fee per hour:

An hour’s therapy consultation costs £60. If you’d like to discuss your requirements and session goals, please feel free to contact me by using the form on the contact page below.