Psychotherapy, Consultation and Assessment
If you are concerned about your child and want help from a psychotherapist, please feel able to contact me. I offer psychotherapy consultations and assessments for children, adolescents, young adults and parents in South East London.
This is an opportunity to talk about your concerns and to consider these concerns in the context of family and/or school. We will think together about past events and how these may have impacted the young person. We will also talk about current difficulties that may have an influence on how your child is feeling and may reflect in their behaviour. Together we will think about the best way forward in ensuring that your child and you get the best support that is available. This may involve advice about further assessment and/or treatment. I am able to signpost to other professionals who can provide psychological assessment if this is required (for example, ADHD, ASD, cognitive assessment).
Psychotherapy Assessment
A psychotherapy assessment can take up to 5 appointments. This gives ample time for parents and young person to meet with me, to introduce the psychotherapy model and my way of working and to discuss all relevant issues.
Three of these appointments are for the young person on their own and gives us the chance to determine whether this model of working is the best approach and whether this is the right time to be starting therapy.
The final appointment is for feedback to parents (in the case of younger children) and further planning. If we agree that psychotherapy is not what is required I will help you to think about what further assessment and/or treatment may suit you and your child and I can assist you in signposting to other relevant professionals.
Treatment
Psychotherapy sessions take place weekly, usually on the same day and at the same time. There are situations where more frequent sessions are required and if this is the case I will suggest this to parents.
If the therapy is for the young person on their own then separate sessions can be arranged for parents if required. This is to ensure that parents are well supported and have the space to reflect on any changes they observe in the relationship with their child and in their child’s behaviour. In work with adolescents parent sessions are arranged if requested by the young person.
The issue of confidentiality is discussed with families at the start of the assessment. I am bound by the ethical codes of the Association of Child Psychotherapists and the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and adhere to confidentiality guidelines.