Counselling for Children
Supporting children through life’s little and big challenges
Childhood is a time of discovery, growth and change. While there can be plenty of excitement along the way, children can also experience worries, pressures and emotions that sometimes feel difficult to understand or manage.
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From starting a new school or navigating friendships to feeling anxious about bedtime, swimming lessons or sporting activities, even seemingly small challenges can feel enormous to a child.
Helping Children Find Their Confidence
Every child experiences the world differently. Some are naturally confident and outgoing, while others may be more sensitive, cautious or find unfamiliar situations overwhelming.
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Sometimes children struggle to explain what is worrying them. Their feelings might emerge through tears, frustration, difficulty sleeping, reluctance to attend school or withdrawing from activities they previously enjoyed.
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Counselling provides a safe and supportive space where children can begin to understand their feelings, build confidence and explore ways of managing situations that feel challenging. My approach is gentle, collaborative and tailored to each child’s age, personality and individual needs.
How I Can Help
Children experience a wide range of challenges as they grow. Some of the areas I can support include:
School Life, Anxiety and Transitions
Moving through school can bring unexpected pressures and worries, even for children who have previously felt happy and confident.
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Moving from pre-prep to prep school
Transitioning from primary to secondary or senior school
Starting a new school or adjusting to new teachers
School anxiety, reluctance to attend or school avoidance
Academic pressures, perfectionism and fear of getting things wrong
Changes in routines, expectations and friendships
Anxiety, Worries and Intrusive Thoughts
Children can experience worries that feel difficult to explain or control.
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Persistent worrying or overthinking
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Intrusive or unwanted thoughts
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Fear of something bad happening
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Anxiety about unfamiliar situations
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Fear of failure or disappointing others
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Feeling overwhelmed by everyday expectations
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Counselling can help children explore and make sense of these thoughts and feelings, without judgement.
Sleep, Separation and Everyday Fears
​Sometimes worries become most noticeable at bedtime or when children are faced with situations that require greater independence.
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Anxiety around bedtime or falling asleep
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Worries about sleeping alone
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Separation anxiety
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Sleepovers and staying away from home
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Anxiety about trying new activities or unfamiliar experiences
Confidence, Self-Esteem and Sport
Sport and extracurricular activities can be a wonderful source of enjoyment and confidence, but they can also bring pressure and self-doubt.
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Low confidence or self-esteem
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Anxiety about sporting performance or competitions
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Fear of letting down teammates, coaches or parents
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Worries about team selection or not being good enough
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Comparing themselves with others
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Difficulty coping with mistakes, setbacks or disappointment
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Reluctance to participate in activities they previously enjoyed
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The focus is on helping children build confidence, enjoy their experiences and develop a healthier relationship with achievement and expectations.
Friendships, Relationships and Belonging
Friendships become increasingly important as children grow, and navigating these relationships isn’t always easy.
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Friendship difficulties or disagreements
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Feeling excluded or left out
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Bullying or unkind behaviour
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Social anxiety and confidence
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Managing conflict
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Developing a stronger sense of belonging and self-worth
Managing Emotions and Change
Children can sometimes experience feelings that seem bigger than their ability to manage them.
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Anger, frustration or emotional overwhelm
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Sadness, worries or low mood
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Changes within the family
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Bereavement, loss or separation
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Difficulty coping with uncertainty or change
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Learning to recognise, understand and express emotions
Neurodiversity and Individual Differences
I also support neurodivergent children, including those with ADHD, autism and other differences in how they experience the world. Children may experience sensory overwhelm, anxiety, emotional regulation difficulties, friendship challenges or difficulties navigating school environments and expectations.
My approach is neuro-affirming and focuses on understanding each child’s individual experience, strengths and needs, rather than trying to change who they are.
Helping Children Feel Understood
Children don’t always have the words to explain how they feel, and that’s absolutely fine. I use a combination of talking, creative activities and age-appropriate approaches to help children explore their emotions in ways that feel natural and comfortable.
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We might use drawing, objects, games, stories or simply talking together. The aim isn’t to change who a child is, but to help them understand themselves, develop confidence and find ways of navigating situations that feel challenging.
When Might Counselling Help My Child?
As a parent, it can sometimes be difficult to know whether what your child is experiencing is part of growing up or whether they might benefit from additional support. You might notice that your child:
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Seems more worried, tearful or overwhelmed than usual
Is reluctant to attend school or certain activities
Has difficulty sleeping or needs more reassurance at bedtime
Has become less confident or increasingly self-critical
Is withdrawing from friendships, sport or activities they once enjoyed
Becomes upset or frustrated more easily
Is finding a particular transition or change difficult
Seems to be carrying worries they struggle to talk about
Not every worry means a child needs counselling. However, when something begins to affect their confidence, happiness or everyday life, having someone outside the family to talk to can be helpful.
My Approach
I am a qualified, integrative counsellor and a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), with experience supporting children and young people experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, school pressures, friendship difficulties and confidence challenges.
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I offer counselling for children, typically from Year 4 upwards, adapting sessions to their age, developmental stage and individual needs. Sessions may include talking and creative activities, helping children engage in a way that feels comfortable for them.
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I assess suitability individually and, where specialist play therapy or another form of support would be more appropriate, I can help families explore alternative options.
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Looking for support for an older child? Find out more about counselling for teenagers.
Taking the First Step
Sometimes children simply need a space where they can be themselves, feel heard and begin to make sense of what’s happening in their world.
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If your child is finding something difficult, whether it’s a big life change or an everyday worry that has started to affect their confidence or happiness, please get in touch. We can arrange an initial conversation to explore what is happening and whether counselling might be helpful.