Information for Parents and Carers

Supporting Your Child's Emotional Wellbeing

As a parent or carer, it can be difficult to see your child struggling emotionally. You may notice changes in their mood, behaviour, confidence, relationships, or ability to cope, and feel unsure about how best to support them.

Seeking counselling for your child can feel like a significant step, and it is natural to have questions about what counselling involves and how it may help.

This page aims to provide information about counselling for children and young people and answer some of the questions parents and carers commonly ask.

When Might Counselling Be Helpful?

Children and young people can experience emotional difficulties for many reasons. Sometimes there is a clear trigger, while at other times it may be harder to understand what is happening.

Counselling may be helpful if your child is experiencing:

• Anxiety and excessive worry

• Panic attacks

• Low mood or depression

• Difficulties managing emotions

• Friendship difficulties

• Bullying

• School-related stress

• Bereavement and loss

• Family changes or separation

• Low self-esteem or confidence

• Trauma or adverse life experiences

• Self-harm or thoughts of self-harm

• Withdrawal from family or friends

• Changes in behaviour, sleep, or appetite

Children and young people do not always have the words to explain what they are feeling. Counselling can provide a safe space to explore and make sense of these experiences.

What Happens During Counselling?

Every child and young person is different, and counselling is tailored to their individual needs.

Sessions provide a safe, supportive, and non-judgemental environment where they can talk about what is happening in their life, explore their feelings, and develop healthier ways of coping.

With younger children, counselling may involve creative activities, drawing, or other age-appropriate approaches alongside talking.

The focus is on helping children and young people feel understood, supported, and empowered.

A Trauma-Informed Approach

Many emotional and behavioural difficulties can be linked to experiences that have felt overwhelming, frightening, confusing, or unsafe.

Trauma-informed counselling recognises how past experiences can affect a child's emotional wellbeing, behaviour, relationships, confidence, and sense of safety.

Rather than asking "What is wrong with this child?" a trauma-informed approach considers "What may have happened to this child?" and works to create safety, trust, and empowerment throughout the counselling process.

Confidentiality and Trust

For counselling to be effective, children and young people need to feel safe enough to talk openly.

This means that counselling sessions are confidential. Information shared during sessions is not routinely fed back to parents or carers.

However, there are important limits to confidentiality. Information may need to be shared if there are concerns about the safety of the child, another person, or where there is a legal obligation to do so.

These limits are discussed clearly at the beginning of counselling and you can find out more about on our privacy notice page

Will I Be Kept Informed?

Parents and carers play an important role in supporting children and young people.

While the content of counselling sessions remains confidential, general updates about attendance, engagement, and the counselling process can be discussed where appropriate.

The balance between confidentiality and parental involvement will depend on the age, understanding, and individual circumstances of the young person.

What If My Child Does Not Want Counselling?

Counselling is most effective when a child or young person is willing to engage with the process.

It is common for young people to feel nervous, uncertain, or reluctant at first. Sometimes simply knowing what to expect and having the opportunity to ask questions can help reduce anxiety.

Where appropriate, an initial conversation can be arranged to explore concerns and consider whether counselling feels like the right support at this time.

How Many Sessions Will My Child Need?

There is no set number of counselling sessions that is right for every child or young person.

Some benefit from short-term support focused on a specific issue, while others may require longer-term counselling to explore more complex or longstanding difficulties.

Regular reviews help ensure that counselling continues to meet the child's needs.

Working Together

Supporting a child or young person often works best when there is a collaborative approach between the counsellor, the young person, and, where appropriate, their parent or carer.

The aim is always to provide a safe, supportive environment where the child or young person can develop greater understanding, resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing.

Child and Young Person Counselling Enquiries

Whether your child is experiencing anxiety, low mood, difficulties at school, low self-esteem, bereavement, or the impact of trauma, counselling can provide a safe space for support and understanding.

If you would like to know more or think counselling could benefit your child or young person, please get in touch to discuss how I may be able to help.