Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy in Reading
I provide specialist Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy in Reading, with a focus on helping children and teenagers who are dealing with anxiety, trauma, low mood, behavioural difficulties, attachment issues, and the impacts of adverse childhood experiences. With over 30 years of therapeutic experience working with young people and families, I offer a safe, compassionate, and evidence-based approach that includes EMDR Therapy, tailored to meet each child’s individual needs.
How can Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy Help?
Every child experiences difficulties differently. Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy offers a safe and supportive environment where children and young people can explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that are comfortable for them.
Depending on their age and individual needs, this may involve talking, engaging in creative activities, play, or utilizing other therapeutic methods, including EMDR Therapy when appropriate. The primary goals of therapy are to alleviate emotional distress, enhance resilience, and assist young people in developing healthier relationships with themselves and others.
Parents and carers are also supported as a vital part of the therapeutic process when deemed suitable.
What is my approach?
Every child is unique, so there is no single approach that is right for everyone. I tailor therapy to each child's age, personality, and individual needs, drawing on over 30 years of experience working with children, young people and families.
As an Integrative Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist and EMDR UK Accredited Therapist, I adapt my work to help each young person feel safe, understood, and supported. Many children find it difficult to express their feelings through words alone. Depending on their age and needs, EMDR therapy and other therapeutic methods may involve talking, creative activities, drawing, sandtray, therapeutic stories, imagery, play, or processing through EMDR.
The aim is always to help children make sense of their experiences, process difficult emotions, and develop healthier ways of coping.
What can Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy help with?
Children and young people seek therapy for various reasons, and to help address a diverse range of emotional, behavioural, and psychological difficulties, including:
- Anxiety and excessive worry
- Depression and low mood
- Trauma and adverse childhood experiences
- Attachment difficulties
- Self-harm
- Low self-esteem and confidence
- Bullying
- School anxiety and school refusal
- Anger and emotional regulation difficulties
- Bereavement and loss
- Family separation and relationship difficulties
- Adoption-related issues
- Abuse and neglect
- Behavioural difficulties
If you're uncertain about whether Child and Adolescent psychotherapy or EMDR therapy would be suitable for your child or teenager, I would be glad to discuss your concerns during an initial consultation.
Why Choose my Practice?
Choosing the right therapist for your child is a crucial decision. With over 30 years of therapeutic experience, I provide a compassionate, evidence-based, and individually tailored approach. I also have extensive experience supporting children who face challenges such as trauma, anxiety, attachment difficulties, and adoption-related issues.
I have also worked with specialist organisations for many years, including Adoption UK, PAC-UK, PACT, and SWAAY Child & Adolescent Services.
I work with children, teenagers, and families from Reading and the surrounding areas, offering both short and long-term psychotherapy, including EMDR therapy, tailored to each family's unique needs.
EMDR Therapy for Children and Teenagers
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) is an evidence-based therapy that plays a significant role in adolescent psychotherapy, especially in aiding children and teenagers to recover from traumatic or distressing experiences. As an EMDR UK Accredited Therapist, I incorporate EMDR therapy into my sessions when suitable, allowing young individuals to process traumatic memories, alleviate anxiety, and enhance emotional resilience. This method is particularly effective for addressing issues related to trauma, adverse childhood experiences, anxiety, bullying, accidents, medical procedures, bereavement, and other difficult life events. To learn more about EMDR therapy, please visit my dedicated EMDR page.
Appointment Details
The first step is to arrange an initial telephone consultation where we can discuss your concerns regarding adolescent psychotherapy. We'll explore whether this therapeutic approach is appropriate for your child or teenager and determine the most suitable way forward.
Sessions typically last 45-50 minutes and are scheduled consistently at the same time each week.
Regular parent check-ins and/or parental sessions can also be beneficial, especially if you are considering EMDR Therapy as a treatment option.
If you are interested in finding out if Child and Adolescent psychotherapy might be helpful for your child, please contact me.
