Therapy for young people

Sometimes we might not have the words to express our deepest feelings. This resonates even more with children and adolescents who might consequently resort to certain behaviours as a vocalisation of their struggles and suffering. Therapy can have a positive effect on young people’s confidence, resilience, family relationships, friendships, school attendance and academic achievement.

Creative therapy helps them access these buried feelings in an indirect and safer manner. In turn, this helps them self-regulate and make sense of what is happening to them: along the self-discovery comes the self-acceptance.

"Using non-verbal methods, the therapist can reach clients who have lost the capacity to speak in connected discourse or, alternatively, who are trapped in the web of words. Language itself, used in a creative way, can regain the symbolic potency that it has lost in everyday conversation." - Stephen K. Levine

Child therapy

Talking about problems can be hard for children. A child may not even be able to recognise what they find difficult. Play is the natural approach for children to express their feelings in order to make sense of their experiences. This offers them a safe space to explore their inner feelings in a non-direct way. We can use media such as: drawing and painting, water and clay, sand tray and miniatures, guided imagery and relaxation techniques, drama and puppetry, poetry, movement and music. The therapy always starts with an initial consultation with the parents and without the child. Follow-up sessions with parents are planned every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the needs.

Adolescent therapy

Adolescence can be a challenging time. Along with physical changes adolescents undergo significant transformations in the way they think, act, feel and perceive the world.   Therapy offers them a space where they can be themselves and explore these changes without judgment. Making sense of their difficulties in a confidential and safe space increases their sense of worth, helps regulate feelings and improve communication. My aim is to develop emotional intelligence and increase self-confidence so they can communicate better at school and at home. The therapy starts with an initial consultation with the parents and, depending on the age and maturity, with the adolescent. Follow-up sessions with parents are planned every 6 to 8 weeks depending on the needs.

Parent consultation

Before I can start working with your child, we will meet for an initial consultation. This one-hour consultation is a space for you to share with me about your family's and your child's early history and discuss how we can together help your child. Depending on the needs, follow-up consultations will be planned every 6 to 8 weeks. We will assess the needs together.