Pressure, stress and transitions
Worries about exams, attendance, academic pressure or coping with changes at school.
Therapy for children and teenagers · Ages 8–17
A place to feel safe, heard and supported.
Amber offers individual therapy for children and teenagers aged 8–17, with a pace and approach shaped around who they are, not a one-size-fits-all programme.
For children and teenagers
You don’t need to have the right words.
Choosing to start therapy can feel like a big step. It’s okay to feel nervous or not know where to begin.
You might talk, pause, draw, use examples or find another way to show what is going on. Amber will listen, give you time and work with what helps you feel most comfortable. She isn’t there to judge you, lecture you or tell you how you should feel.
You can begin with what you feel ready to share, and tell Amber if something doesn’t feel helpful. Together, you can make sense of what is going on and find things that help in everyday life.
You don’t have to know what to say or tell me everything straight away. I’m not here to judge or rush you. We can start wherever feels easiest and take things one step at a time.
What Amber would like you to know
When support may help
Big feelings can be hard to explain.
Children and teenagers do not need to know exactly what to say. Therapy can help them understand their feelings and develop their own ways of navigating challenges.
Bullying and friendships
Space to explore what is happening and how it is affecting confidence.
Change at home
Including separation, divorce, loss or shifts in family relationships.
Identity and self-esteem
Understanding emotions, building confidence and feeling safer being themselves.
Anxiety and overwhelm
Worries, panic, overthinking or feelings that become difficult to manage.
Low mood and withdrawal
Feeling persistently sad, losing interest or becoming more isolated.
One of these might describe what is happening, several might, or none might feel quite right. That’s okay. You don’t need to have the right words or understand everything yet. We can start with whatever you do know, together.
Considering therapy
The idea may come from your child or from someone supporting them.
Sometimes a child or teenager asks for therapy themselves. At other times, a parent, guardian, school or another professional may suggest it because they are concerned about how things have been for them. Either is a valid starting point.
What matters is that the child or teenager understands why therapy has been suggested and has space to say what they think. They may see things differently from the adults around them, and that is okay. An initial session gives them a chance to meet Amber and decide whether therapy feels right for them.
Before the first session, consider:
- Who first raised the idea of therapy, and what prompted the conversation?
- What has your child been told about why therapy is being considered?
- How do they feel about trying a first session?
- What would they like support with, even if this differs from an adult’s concerns?
- What questions would they like to ask Amber?
- What would help them feel heard and involved in what happens next?
For parents and guardians
Questions parents and guardians often ask.
It is natural to have questions about what happens before therapy begins, how confidentiality works and what your role will be. The answers below explain the practical arrangements, how your child’s privacy is protected and the circumstances in which information may need to be shared.
Professional reassuranceAmber holds an Enhanced DBS certificate and is a BACP registered member.
What forms need to be completed before the first session?
Before the first session, Amber will ask for a consent form for anyone under 18, a basic information form, GDPR information and a counselling agreement to be completed. These cover the practical arrangements, how personal information is handled and the boundaries of the therapeutic work.
What can I share before therapy begins?
You can tell Amber what has prompted the enquiry, any important family or school context, what support has already been tried and any concerns about safety. At this stage, the main thing is that your child knows therapy is being considered and is willing to attend. You do not need to decide what they should work on. Amber will explore this with them directly.
Will I be told what my child talks about?
No. Amber will respect your child’s privacy and will not tell you what they have discussed in their sessions. Having a confidential space helps children and teenagers feel safe enough to speak openly and build trust in therapy.
The exception is if Amber is concerned that they may be at risk of harm, including self-harm or suicide, or that someone else may be at risk. In that situation, she may need to share relevant information with you or another appropriate service. Wherever possible, Amber would explain this to your child first and involve them in what happens next.
How involved will I be during therapy?
Your involvement will usually be limited. After the forms have been completed and practical arrangements agreed, sessions are a private space for your child. Parents and guardians do not usually join sessions or receive details about what is discussed. Any general updates will depend on what your child is comfortable sharing. Respecting this boundary helps protect their privacy and build trust in the therapeutic process. Amber may contact you about practical arrangements or if she has a safeguarding concern.
Can I contact Amber while my child is having therapy?
Yes. You can contact Amber about appointments, practical arrangements or if you need to share a safeguarding concern. If you message Amber about something that has happened, she will tell your child that you have been in touch and explain what information has been shared. This transparency is important because therapy relies on building a trusting relationship.
What if they are unsure about starting or do not know what to say?
They do not need to arrive ready to explain everything. It helps if they know why therapy is being considered and have a voice in the decision. Questions or worries can be discussed before the first session, and Amber will work at a pace that helps them feel comfortable rather than pressuring them to talk.
Therapy can be taken one session at a time, and Amber will check in with them regularly about how the sessions feel and whether anything needs to change.
What should I do if I am worried about immediate safety?
Hand in Hand Therapy is not a crisis or emergency service, and messages may not be seen immediately. If your child or someone else is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. If they need urgent mental health support but it is not an emergency, call NHS 111 and select the mental health option.
For free support at any time, call Samaritans on 116 123 or text SHOUT to 85258.
Children and teenagers can also call Childline free on 0800 1111 at any time. Anyone under 35 experiencing thoughts of suicide, or anyone worried about someone under 35, can call PAPYRUS HopeLine 24/7 free on 0300 102 2470 or text HOPE to 88247.
Children and teenagers
Book the first appointment, or check the fit first.
Online sessions and free 10-minute Q&As can only be booked through the portal. For a face-to-face session, please email Amber.
If you don’t see an online session time that works for you, please email Amber.