Real experiences, real support
See the difference counselling can make
To respect client confidentiality, all case studies have been anonymised and some details have been gently adapted. They reflect real experiences, shared in a way that protects identity while giving a sense of the support offered and the difference counselling can make.
Building confidence and helping a child feel more prepared for change.
Presenting Difficulties
A primary school-aged child experiencing increasing anxiety about moving to a new school. They were worried about making friends, fitting in and coping with an unfamiliar environment.
Context
The transition was creating uncertainty and a number of “what if” worries. The child was finding it difficult to imagine things going well and was becoming increasingly anxious as the move approached.
Approach
Sessions focused on exploring the child’s worries, separating what was known from what was imagined, and identifying what might help them feel more prepared. Creative activities were used to express feelings, explore possible scenarios and recognise existing strengths. We also looked at practical ways to manage anxiety and build confidence in approaching unfamiliar situations.
Outcome
The child became more able to talk about their worries and approach the transition with greater confidence. Although some nervousness remained, they developed a more balanced view of starting school and felt better equipped to manage the changes ahead including understanding the tools and techniques available to help them when they felt anxious.
Supporting emotional understanding, self-esteem and confidence in friendships.
Presenting Difficulties
A child experiencing friendship difficulties, including feeling excluded and becoming upset by changes within their friendship group. These experiences were beginning to affect their confidence and enjoyment of school.
Context
Friendships had become an important source of worry. The child was sensitive to perceived rejection and often questioned whether others liked them. Small disagreements could feel particularly upsetting, and they were finding it difficult to understand or communicate their feelings.
Approach
Using a combination of talking and creative activities, our time together explored friendship dynamics, feelings of belonging and the child’s sense of self-worth. We worked on recognising emotions, understanding different perspectives, expressing feelings and identifying what healthy friendships might look like. There was also a focus on building confidence and helping the child recognise their own strengths rather than relying solely on acceptance from others.
Outcome
The child’s parent said they were displaying greater awareness of their emotions and became more confident in navigating friendship challenges. They were better able to express how they felt, manage disagreements and had begun to recognise that their self-worth was not dependent on being included in every situation.
Helping a child understand their worries and feel more confident at bedtime.
Presenting Difficulties
A child experiencing anxiety around bedtime, including difficulty settling to sleep independently and persistent worries that became more noticeable in the evening.
Context
Although the child generally managed well during the day, bedtime provided fewer distractions and worries often became more intense. They frequently sought reassurance from parents and found the prospect of sleeping alone unsettling, which was affecting both their sleep and family routines.
Approach
Our time together explored what bedtime represented for the child and the thoughts and feelings contributing to their anxiety. Through age-appropriate talking and creative activities, we worked on recognising anxious thoughts, understanding how worry can affect the body and identifying ways to feel calmer. The child was supported to develop their own coping strategies at a manageable pace.
Outcome
The child developed a better understanding of their bedtime worries and became more confident in managing anxious feelings. Over time, they were able to approach bedtime with less distress, use calming strategies more independently and feel increasingly comfortable settling to sleep.
Helping a child make sense of loss and find ways to express difficult emotions.
Presenting Difficulties
A child struggling with the death of a family member. They were experiencing feelings of sadness, confusion and anxiety, but found it difficult to talk about their loss. Their emotions sometimes emerged through frustration, tearfulness or changes in behaviour.
Context
The child was trying to understand what had happened and what the loss meant for them and their family. They had questions and worries that they were reluctant to share, particularly as they could see other family members were also grieving.
At times, they appeared to be coping well, enjoying school and spending time with friends, but their sadness could surface unexpectedly. They were finding it difficult to understand why their feelings changed so much from one day to the next.
Approach
Our time together offered a safe, gentle space where the child could explore their feelings without worrying about upsetting anyone else.
Through talking, drawing and creative activities, we explored their understanding of death, the different emotions associated with grief and the memories they wanted to hold on to.
We also looked at how grief can come in waves, and how it is possible to feel happy, laugh and enjoy everyday activities while still missing someone very much.
The focus was on helping the child feel comfortable expressing their emotions, finding reassurance in their relationships and understanding that there is no right or wrong way to grieve.
Outcome
Over time, the child became more confident talking about the person they had lost and sharing their feelings with those close to them.
They developed a greater understanding of their grief and began to recognise that difficult emotions could come and go without feeling quite so overwhelming.
Although they continued to miss their loved one, they felt more able to remember them with warmth, talk about their memories and enjoy everyday experiences without feeling guilty.
Counselling helped the child begin to understand that moving forward did not mean forgetting someone important to them.
Supporting a child to understand their feelings and adjust to changes following their parents’ separation.
Presenting Difficulties
A child experiencing emotional difficulties following their parents’ divorce. They were finding it difficult to understand and express their feelings, sometimes appearing sad and withdrawn, while at other times becoming upset, angry or frustrated over seemingly small things.
Context
The child was struggling to make sense of the changes brought about by the divorce, including changes to their home life, routines and time spent with each parent. They had worries about what the future might look like and sometimes feared that the separation was their fault or that they might lose the love and attention of one or both parents.
These worries were affecting their emotional wellbeing and, at times, their ability to concentrate, settle into routines and engage in everyday activities. They also found it difficult to talk openly about their feelings, particularly when they were concerned about upsetting either parent.
Approach
Sessions provided a gentle, supportive space where the child could explore their feelings at their own pace, without feeling pressured to take sides or protect either parent. Using a combination of talking, play and creative activities, we explored their worries, emotions and experiences of the changes taking place in their family.
We looked at how separation and divorce can bring many different feelings, including sadness, anger, confusion, worry and relief, and that these emotions can change from day to day. The child was supported to understand that the divorce was not their fault.
We also explored practical ways to manage transitions between homes, communicate feelings and cope with difficult moments. Creative activities helped the child identify sources of comfort and support while developing a stronger sense of security and stability.
Outcome
Over time, the child became more comfortable expressing their feelings and talking about the changes in their family. They developed a greater understanding of their emotions and began to recognise that it was okay to love both parents and enjoy time with each of them.
The child also became more able to share their worries, ask questions and use strategies to manage difficult emotions and transitions. Although the divorce remained a significant change in their life, they felt more secure and better able to adjust to their new family routines.
Building understanding of anxiety and developing practical tools to feel calmer in the school environment.
Presenting Difficulties
A teenager experiencing high levels of anxiety linked to school. They described feeling overwhelmed in lessons, struggling to concentrate, and frequently overthinking. Anxiety was impacting both academic engagement and day-to-day wellbeing.
Context
The young person found the school environment particularly triggering, with pressure in lessons and difficulty regulating emotions in the moment. There was limited understanding of what anxiety felt like in the body, which made it harder to manage.
Approach
Work focused on helping the young person understand anxiety from both an emotional and physiological perspective. Sessions included psychoeducation around the nervous system, identifying early signs of overwhelm, developing in-the-moment grounding strategies, and planning ahead for known triggers within the school day. Alongside this, lifestyle factors such as sleep, hydration and phone use were explored to support emotional regulation.
Outcome
The client reported feeling more in control and less overwhelmed in lessons, with an increased ability to recognise anxiety earlier and use practical strategies to manage it. School felt less intimidating, and confidence in coping increased.
Supporting emotional awareness and helping young people express themselves in safer, more constructive ways.
Presenting Difficulties
A teenager experiencing frequent anger both at home and school. Emotions were often expressed through frustration or withdrawal, with limited ability to articulate underlying feelings.
Context
Anger was masking more complex emotions that felt difficult to access or express. Relationships at home were becoming strained, with increased conflict and misunderstandings.
Approach
A creative and relational approach was used to reduce pressure and support engagement. This included gentle exploration of underlying emotions beneath anger, use of creative tools to support expression without reliance on words, building emotional awareness and vocabulary, and practising alternative ways of communicating needs. Sessions prioritised a safe, non-judgemental environment where the young person could open up at their own pace.
Outcome
The client reported greater emotional awareness and an improved ability to express feelings, alongside reduced conflict at home and a growing ability to respond rather than react in moments of frustration.
Reducing overwhelm and building confidence during high-pressure academic periods.
Presenting Difficulties
A teenager experiencing significant stress related to exams. Anxiety was impacting concentration, focus, and overall confidence.
Context
There was strong internal pressure to perform well, alongside fear of failure, creating a cycle of overthinking and reduced productivity.
Approach
Sessions focused on breaking down overwhelming tasks into manageable steps, developing practical coping strategies for use in the moment, exploring unhelpful thinking patterns and self-imposed pressure, and building a more balanced and compassionate internal dialogue.
Outcome
The client reported reduced stress levels and improved focus, with a greater ability to manage pressure during exams and approach them with increased confidence.
Providing stability, understanding and practical support during periods of uncertainty.
Presenting Difficulties
A teenager experiencing social and school-related challenges, alongside a family feeling uncertain how best to offer support.
Context
The family were awaiting CAMHS support and feeling stuck in the interim. Confidence was low, and navigating friendships felt difficult due to possible AuDHD diagnosis.
Approach
Work included creating a safe, accepting therapeutic space, tailoring sessions to individual needs and communication style, supporting emotional understanding and social confidence, and offering guidance to caregivers to support consistency at home.
Outcome
The parent reported increased confidence in the young person and improved ability to manage social situations, alongside feeling more equipped to provide support and noticing a more settled family dynamic.
Helping young people manage uncertainty and reduce overwhelming "what if" thinking.
Presenting Difficulties
A young person experiencing persistent worry linked to a family member's illness. Intrusive "what if" thoughts and a sense of responsibility beyond their age were present.
Context
Uncertainty around the parent's health contributed to heightened anxiety and difficulty relaxing. There was a strong sense of needing to stay in control.
Approach
Work focused on differentiating between what is within and outside of control, normalising worry and anxiety responses, introducing age-appropriate coping strategies, and creating permission for rest, play and enjoyment alongside difficult feelings. The space offered consistency and reassurance, supporting emotional processing in a developmentally appropriate way.
Outcome
The client reported feeling calmer and less consumed by worry, with an increased ability to step back from anxious thoughts and engage in everyday activities without feeling overwhelmed by responsibility.
Supporting emotional regulation and developing safer ways to cope during difficult moments.
Presenting Difficulties
A young person experiencing intense emotional fluctuations and difficulties managing distress safely.
Context
Emotions often felt overwhelming and unpredictable, creating challenges in coping during difficult moments.
Approach
Work focused on increasing awareness of emotional patterns and triggers, developing safer coping strategies, creating a personalised safety plan, and building tolerance for distress and emotional regulation skills. Sessions were paced carefully, prioritising safety, trust, and consistency.
Outcome
The client reported increased awareness of emotional experiences and an improved ability to manage distress more safely, alongside feeling more in control and better equipped to cope while recognising support remained ongoing.