I have experience working with a wide range of issues, including bereavement, trauma, anxiety, and family breakdown. Whether it’s through play-based therapy, creative media, or talking therapies, I tailor my approach to suit your child’s developmental needs and offer support that fits where they are. This may include sand tray work, miniatures, games, or talking therapy, all designed to be as effective and comfortable as possible.
Therapy can help build a stronger sense of self, increase emotional resilience, repair relationships, and help children and young people begin to enjoy life in a way that makes sense for them. It can also reduce anxiety and fear-based behaviours. Autism and ADHD affirming, I offer inclusive support for neurodivergent individuals, LGBTQIA+ and gender-questioning clients.
If you’re looking for a therapist who will meet you with empathy, openness, and care, I’m here to help. My practice is focused on creating a safe, non-judgemental space where you and your child can explore, grow, and heal.
Young people experience a wide range of emotional and mental health challenges in a world that can feel overwhelming, fast-paced, and demanding.
Sometimes these difficulties are linked to neurodivergence. Sometimes they are shaped by life experiences such as loss, trauma, or changes within the family. Often, they are a mix of both.
I offer counselling for children and young people who may be struggling with their mental health, alongside a neurodivergent-affirming approach that recognises each young person’s unique way of experiencing the world.
You might be considering counselling if a child or young person is:
These experiences are more common than many people realise and support can make a meaningful difference.
Anxiety is one of the most common reasons young people come to counselling. This might include:
For some young people, anxiety is linked to sensory overwhelm, masking, or feeling misunderstood. In counselling, we focus on:
Some young people have experienced events that feel frightening, confusing, or overwhelming. This might include:
Trauma can show up in different ways including anxiety, shutdown, anger, sleep difficulties, or emotional overwhelm. Therapy offers a safe, steady space to:
There is no pressure to talk about anything before they are ready.
Changes in family life can have a significant impact on young people. This might include:
Young people don’t always have the words to express how these changes affect them. Counselling can help by:
Grief can affect young people in many different ways. This might include the loss of:
Children and young people may move in and out of grief, rather than experiencing it in a linear way. In counselling, we create space to:
Some young people experience ongoing low mood or emotional distress. They might:
Counselling provides a space where they can be heard and understood without judgement.
If a young person is neurodivergent, their mental health experiences are often shaped by:
This is why I integrate a neurodivergent-affirming approach into all areas of my work. This means:
Counselling offers young people:
There is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, therapy is shaped around the individual.
It can be difficult to know how best to support a young person who is struggling. Alongside counselling, I offer support for parents and carers to:
If you are searching for:
You’re in the right place.
If you’ve landed here, you might be feeling overwhelmed, misunderstood, or simply tired of trying to fit into spaces that don’t quite work for you. You might be a young person, or a parent looking for support for your child. You might already identify as neurodivergent, or you might just have a sense that something about the way you experience the world is different. However you got here, you’re welcome.
I am a child and young person psychotherapeutic counsellor offering a neurodivergent-affirming space. That means I don’t see autism, ADHD, or other forms of neurodivergence as problems to be fixed. Instead, I understand them as valid ways of being, each with their own strengths, challenges, and needs.
In our work together, we move away from trying to change who you are, and instead focus on understanding you — your experiences, your needs, your boundaries, and your way of being in the world.
For parents and carers, I also offer a space to explore how best to support your child in a way that honours who they are, rather than trying to make them fit into expectations that may not suit them.
You don’t need a formal diagnosis to access support here. If you feel that a neurodivergent-affirming approach might help, that is enough.
Starting therapy can feel uncertain, especially if previous experiences haven’t felt helpful or safe. I aim to make this process as transparent, flexible, and collaborative as possible.
We begin with an initial conversation. This can be with a parent/carer, a young person, or both, whatever feels most comfortable. This is a chance to:
There is no pressure to commit, finding the right therapist matters.
The first sessions focus on getting to know each other and building trust. For many neurodivergent young people, this can take time, especially if they’ve had experiences of not being understood or of needing to mask. There is no expectation to open up quickly. We might:
Connection comes before “working on problems.”
My work is grounded in the understanding that neurodivergence is not something to be fixed. This means:
We focus on understanding experiences rather than changing identity.
Each young person is different, but our work might include:
We move at a pace that feels manageable.
Not everyone finds talking the easiest way to express themselves. Sessions can include:
All forms of communication are valid.
Where appropriate, I offer support to parents and carers alongside the young person’s therapy. This might include:
The aim is to create a supportive environment around the young person, not to “fix” them.
Therapy doesn’t have to be open-ended forever. We regularly check in about how things are going, and endings are planned collaboratively, at a pace that feels safe and respectful.
You don’t need to be certain about anything before reaching out. You don’t need the “right words.” You don’t need a diagnosis. You don’t need to be in crisis. If something here resonates, that’s enough to start a conversation.
If you’re looking for a therapist who will meet you with empathy, openness, and care, I’m here to help. An initial conversation can help you decide what feels like the right next step.
Phone
Address
25 Richmond Street, York, YO31 7XL
Online
Sessions available via Zoom