Young people face many challenges in their lives and for some the teenage years are the most difficult. Adolescence brings with it physical and personal changes along with social and academic pressures, all of which place increased stress upon the family. Counselling can help play a supportive role at this time, providing a safe space to express feelings and gain perspective on issues that may be of concern.
If your son or daughter is showing some of these typical signs of adolescent psychological problems, then counselling could help:
Difficulty in coping with daily life • excessive worrying • extended periods of 
depression and lethargy • noticeable changes in eating • Ddsturbed sleeping patterns • references to suicide or self-harm • apparent changes in personality • volatile mood • Drug/alcohol misuse • pronounced demonstrations of aggression.
I work using an integrative approach with young people which can involve a combination of talking and:
- Drawing and other creative ways of expressing
- CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and commitment Therapy)
- Mindfulness and relaxation techniques
- Psycho-education
Common Questions parents ask about counselling Counselling for teens: what to expect
In the words of my clients/ parents of clients:
- Thank you for helping to make me the happier person I am today. – (Lucy age 15)
- Thank you so much for everything have have helped me with over the past couple of years. I am immensely grateful for your constant support while navigating this tricky transitional period. You have provided me with the tools to work through my anxiety and try to accept what I am feeling – good or bad. I’ve really valued the space to talk, be heard and all of your advice. – (Young person age 19)
- Thank you for all that you are doing with Amy she is definitely happier than when we first met you. – (Parent of Amy age 14)
- Thank you Nikki, you are great at your job and have helped me greatly get my views across and helped me make my life better. – (Anthony age 13)
- We are just so so proud of what our daughter has achieved and how she is flourishing. Thank you so much for all that you have done for her – you have been such a vital lifeline for her and taught her strategies for resilience that she can now build on and carry into adult hood. You need to feel proud of yourself for the difference you are making to young people’s lives. And it’s so reassuring that she can come back to you if needed. – (Parent of 16 year old)
- I can not recommend Nikki highly enough. Following a difficult few years witnessing his Dad go through an operation, pneumonia and intensive chemotherapy, my son was overwhelmed by the demands of starting secondary school. Despite being a reserved character, he is now able to communicate his feelings and has a multitude of strategies to draw upon when feeling anxious. We still have some way to go, but I am confident that we now have a boy who is more self-aware and is better equipped to deal with the pressures of life. This is all thanks to Nikki’s warm and gentle approach. Her weekly sessions were a real comfort blanket for him during his most difficult times. – (Parent of 12 year old)
I hold a Diploma in Person Centred Counselling and a Post Qualifying Diploma in Counselling Young People. I have also completed a trauma training (Babette Rothschild). I work both in private practise more recently held the role of school counsellor in a Gloucester secondary school.