FAQ - Young People

Alongside this page, which is specific to children and young people, please also see the main FAQ page, which contains general information that’s relevant to clients of all ages.

4 - 10 Years

I am under 10 years old. What will happen if I come to see you?
  • The first time, we will either meet in a room together, or on a computer screen. At the beginning we will talk with a member of your family or someone who is looking after you so everyone knows what will be happening. I will tell you a bit about me and would love to hear a bit about you. I want to help you feel comfortable and happy in the room, and you and I will use toys or games, art or other things to see what is going on in your world and whether there are ways we might make things better for you. I will always listen and be interested in what you think and feel, and want to help with anything you are worried about . If there’s anything about our sessions you find difficult it’s absolutely ok to say so to me and we can work out how to change things so you feel more comfortable. I hope sessions with me are fun and  feel like they help you.

 

  • When we work together you can tell me anything you want. I do not have to tell anyone what you say except if I’m worried about you – or someone else – being in danger. If I am worried about this, I will make sure I find out from you what you think might happen if I talk to someone else who might help and make the best possible plan to make sure you are safe and looked after.

 

  • We may have a chat with your parent or the person looking after you at the end of sessions if we think it might be helpful or if there are things you want to share with them. I always want to help make sure our work together helps your life at home and at school in any way I can.

11-17 Years

Do my parents / guardians have to know I’m having counselling?
  • If you’re 16 or over, you can have counselling without anybody else’s knowledge or consent.

 

  • If you’re under 16, you usually need to have the consent of a parent / guardian. However, it is possible for children under 16 to have counselling without the knowledge or consent of a parent or carer if they are ‘Gillick competent’. Gillick competence is a measure of a young person’s maturity and their understanding of the decision they’re about to make, along with any potential consequences of that decision. https://learning.nspcc.org.uk/child-protection-system/gillick-competence-fraser-guidelines#heading-top

 

  • If you’re under 16 and want to have counselling without the consent of your parents / carers, I will discuss this with you before counselling begins. It is often best to talk to your parents / carers about your mental health, but if you want to go ahead without doing so, I will make a professional assessment of your Gillick competence.
  • No. Counselling sessions are confidential. If you come with a parent I will usually meet with you both for the first ten minutes to explain to you together how this works so everyone understands how we will manage confidentiality.

 

  • You’re free to discuss your counselling sessions with other people if you want to, but I will never discuss them with anyone except my clinical supervisor (another therapist ) – they are also bound by confidentiality.

 

  • There are some exceptional circumstances when I am duty-bound to break confidentiality: when someone is at risk of serious harm; when someone is involved in serious criminal activity, or if I have to testify in a court of law. These limits to confidentiality are discussed in more detail during the first counselling session and they are written into the client contract you will be asked to sign.

 

  • It can be helpful to have review sessions with a family member or carer. I will raise this with you where appropriate and we can discuss together what benefits there might be: it can sometimes be helpful to look together at some learning – eg. How the nervous system works or how particular conditions develop, look and are treated. Sometimes it can be a supportive place to discuss family conflicts or the needs or feelings you may wish a family member to know. Sometimes a young client wants to simply share some elements of what they’ve been working on while the therapist there is to help explain it. I will always listen to your feelings about whether this kind of meeting is helpful in your situation and discuss clearly what you do and do not want to discuss in a meeting like this. Parents/carers are a guest in your space in this instance and I will ensure boundaries are held in the space to help you feel safe.
  • This is something we can discuss. Counselling is usually most effective with just the therapist and client in the room, but there are occasions when having someone else there can be helpful.
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