'...at a time when we didn’t know how to help our teenage daughter, Samanta stepped in and gave her the tools she needed to embrace and make sense of the challenges in her life. We will be forever grateful that we found Samanta' - Parent testimonial of adolescent client

 

My work empowers children and adolescents through creativity, supporting them to understand and integrate their internal and external worlds, gently guiding them towards a calmer, happier future.​

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Creative Child Counselling can benefit children and adolescents who may be experiencing difficult feelings and behaviours linked to:

• Anxiety  

• Depression  

• Anger  

• Grief  

• EBSA (emotionally based school avoidance)

• Isolation  

• Being withdrawn  

• Stress    

• Exclusion  

• Low self-esteem or low self-confidence

•  Neurodiversity

 

They may be trying to cope with distressing events and their aftermath, such as:

• Bereavement or loss 

• Bullying 

• Separation or divorce 

• Emotional, physical or sexual abuse 

• Illness, and the psychological/emotional impact of this  

• Trauma

• Familial mental health issues

 

I embody Dr Dan Hughes' P.A.C.E Method (playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, empathy), addressing  children's behavioural, developmental or emotional needs in a safe and welcoming environment. This technique is especially helpful for children who may have difficulty expressing themselves verbally.

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I offer a selection of art materials as a mode of expression, however this is very  much up to the individual. Within this context art is not used as a diagnostic tool but as a medium to address emotional issues which may be confusing and distressing. Many children find this approach enormously beneficial and very effective at resolving issues as it can gently reach the root of their behavioural and emotional difficulties.

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The service that I offer supports children by helping them develop a growing sense of confidence and understanding. It also provides them with techniques to explore new ways of coping with difficulties and gain an increased experience of wellbeing in relationship to themselves and others.

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GETTING STARTED:

• Parent Consultation - it is essential to first meet with either one or both parents or guardians for a consultation to  explain in greater depth how I work and to gather some history. This usually lasts 80 minutes.

• 1:1 - each 1:1 child counselling session is usually 50 minutes, ideally at the same time and same venue each week.

• For counselling to provide a safe and contained space I negotiate a confidential agreement with the child. This means I do not share what happens in the sessions with parents. I hold confidentiality except in the rare circumstances of a child being at risk of harm. Parental review sessions will be booked in every 6-8 weeks to discuss progress and explore strategies with the  child's knowledge.  

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COST / RATES:

• First Parent / Carer Consultation (80 minutes) - £145​

• Follow-up Parent Consultations (50 minutes) - £90

• 1:1 Counselling Sessions (50 minutes) - £90​

• referral letters / meetings - £45

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NOTE: 48 hour notice of a cancellation needs to be given or session fees will apply.  

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Occasionally a low cost counselling space will become available – please ask for details.

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Please do get in touch for a brief exploratory conversation to see if this service is right for your child, and we can take it from there: 

 

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