Children & Young People

Supporting the Mental Health of Children & Young People: Creating Safe Spaces for Growth, Expression, and Emotional Wellbeing

Children and young people face many pressures in today’s world—from school demands and social media to family changes, bullying, identity struggles, and the general stress of growing up. These challenges can sometimes become overwhelming and start to affect their emotional wellbeing, behaviour, relationships, or self-esteem.

As a therapist, I work with children and young people to create a safe, supportive space where they can begin to explore their thoughts and feelings without fear of judgement. Therapy isn’t about “fixing” them—it’s about helping them feel heard, understood, and empowered to cope with whatever they’re facing.

Signs that a child or young person may benefit from therapy include noticeable changes in mood, withdrawing from friends or activities, sudden anger or anxiety, difficulties at school, low self-confidence, sleep problems, or becoming more tearful or easily overwhelmed. Sometimes these signs are subtle, and sometimes young people don’t have the words to explain what’s wrong. That’s where therapy can help.

I tailor my approach to suit each child or teenager's age, needs, and personality. With younger children, this may involve creative or play-based therapy. With teenagers, sessions often focus on building trust, exploring emotions, and developing coping strategies in a way that feels comfortable and relevant to them.

My goal is always to create a space where young people feel safe to be themselves—where they can explore difficult emotions, learn how to manage challenges, and start to build a stronger sense of self.

I also understand how important it is to support parents and carers. I’m happy to offer guidance and work collaboratively to ensure the young person feels supported both in and outside of the therapy space.

If you're concerned about your child or teen, or if they’ve asked to speak to someone, please feel free to reach out. Therapy can be a positive and powerful step toward growth, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.