Counselling Children & Young People
Photo by Daniel Tuttle on Unsplash
This is an edited version of an article published in Around Chapeltown magazine (August 2026)
Interested in Child or Teen counselling? Here are some questions and answers:
1. How can therapy help a young person?
In counselling, you can talk and be heard. You can get support as you recover, change or make sense of things – events, feelings and thoughts. It can be a relief to talk to someone who respects and cares about you but isn’t involved in your day-to-day life.
2. Is it different to counselling for adults?
You’re unique, so your counselling experience will be different to anyone else’s!
Like adults, young clients are respected and listened to carefully in counselling. You won’t be told what to do and your privacy will be important.
Young people carry a lot of expectations, from home, school, etc. BUT they can also get treated like little kids! You can talk about those things in counselling. Your psychotherapist will understand if just talking is boring ... and might make other suggestions like games, activities or art.
One difference is that adults, including counsellors, sometimes have to do things to help keep young people safe. Another is that a parent or carer might bring you to sessions and meet your counsellor (they won’t be in the sessions, though).
Change might be happening more quickly and intensely for you when you are younger. You are likely to change even during the weeks you are seeing the counsellor – so, they will work hard to notice this and adapt to what you need.
3. How does a young person get therapy?
There are lots of different ways.
If you are in school, there may be a counsellor you can ask to see.
Another professional who knows you, like a doctor, might help you find counselling support. In Sheffield, lots of organisations work with young people’s wellbeing and mental health – some offer counselling that you (or someone else on your behalf) can ask for. Check out sheffieldmentalhealth.co.uk
You or your parents / carers might decide to pay a private counsellor. Look carefully and, when you meet, take your time checking out if you like and feel safe with them.
4. Who do you work with?
I like working in my community, with adults and under 18s. I often focus on what is changing or what feels stuck. I have worked in a school and have an extra qualification for counselling children. I like working with neurodivergent people. I sometimes offer activities – writing, drawing, play. If you'd like to ask more, you or your adult can contact me.
