I am an integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, meaning that I work with young people of all ages to explore and help with problems that can arise from emotional difficulties. I create a warm, authentic relationship with the child or teenager and I believe this is crucial: by developing a joint understanding of the individual’s emotional landscape in a safe environment, things that are causing difficulties can shift and change. 

Areas we might focus on include relationships with others, self-esteem, confidence, resilience and emotional regulation. Therapy can also be a non-judgemental, private space for a child or adolescent to explore areas of their life which are causing distress. 

Being “integrative” means that I don’t have a single set way of working, I have a range of tools in my “toolbox” and then see what might best suit the individual I am working with. 

For therapy to work most effectively, it is important to collaborate with others in a child’s life while also maintaining the privacy of therapy. I hold regular meetings with parents or caregivers and I might also connect to other professionals if that feels helpful. 

I started working with children as a teacher in 2009 and have worked in a variety of different settings, including schools and private practice. I also spent 8 years in the civil service, including working in the Treasury and the Department for Health and Social Care on mental health and social welfare policies.