Before beginning any therapeutic work, I offer a no-cost, 30-minute phone conversation. This gives you space to consider your needs, ask any initial questions, and get a sense of whether my approach aligns with what you're looking for. There's no expectation to commit— just an open, exploratory chat.

Starting therapy, whether for yourself or someone close to you, can feel like a big step. I understand this, and aim to make that first contact feel as approachable and respectful as possible. If you choose to move forward, I provide a discreet and compassionate space where we can thoughtfully explore what kind of support may be most useful. 

Please email louise@yorkchildpsychotherapy.co.uk to arrange a no-cost 30 minute initial consultation

To make an enquiry, please email me: louise@yorkchildpsychotherapy.co.uk 

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy can be especially helpful for those whose struggles run deeper than a passing phase. Studies in the UK and internationally have found that it can improve emotional wellbeing, relationships, and confidence — with benefits that often continue to grow long after therapy ends.

Psychoanalytic psychotherapy is an unfolding process within a therapeutic relationship and therefore takes time to develop. While counselling offers guidance for specific challenges and clinical psychology provides structured assessment and targeted interventions,  psychoanalytic psychotherapy takes an exploratory approach to uncover and work through the deeper emotional patterns shaping thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. It is suitable for adolescents and younger adults. With younger children, I employ a play technique because they use play to communicate in much the same ways as a teenager might use language. Where appropriate I adopt a counselling approach or targeted interventions. Adaptations are made for people who struggle with language or are neurodiverse.

The following information is offered to help with the psychotherapy process. Please do not hesitate to ask if you find anything unclear or wish to question or confirm any details.

What is child and adolescent psychotherapy?

Sessions occur at  regular prearranged times and aim to establish an emotionally containing relationship in which the child  or young person's view and experience of the world can be expressed, through words and/or actions including play and creative work where age appropriate. The work of the therapist is to find a way of carefully helping the child or young person to make sense of how they see the world so that distorted or fixed misunderstandings can be recognised together and reviewed, to enable healthier understandings to develop. Over time this understanding can be internalised so that feelings and behaviours can begin to independently recognised and understood. Left untreated children and young people may respond to others and situations in ways they do not understand and cannot control. They may also develop more serious mental illnesses in adulthood. Children do not "grow out of" emotional difficulties.  

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy is usually considered when a child or young person is experiencing problems that are having a significant effect on their everyday life or relationships, often this is when other approaches have been tried without success for those who experiencing a wide range of problems where there are underlying emotional issues, anxiety, or depression. 

Individual psychotherapy aims to bring about change and emotional growth as well as a resolution of emotional problems for the child or young person. Family and parents/carers have an important role in supporting this change.

Child Psychotherapy helps children and young people to get to know and understand themselves better ⋅ Be more in touch with their feelings and anxieties so that they are better able to manage them ⋅ Be less stuck on emotional responses or patterns which are unhelpful. Sometimes it may not be necessary to offer individual psychotherapy, but the psychotherapist can offer support and guidance to parents or other agencies involved with the child or young person.

What is the Process?

Initial Appointments on the telephone are at no cost. Following this, if agreed then a plan will be made for an assessment in person. 

For children the family will usually be invited for an initial appointment to establish what they are concerned about and whether everybody shares the same concerns and worries. If there are significant concerns about the child and these have been persisting for quite a long time or are significantly impeding the child’s development or emotional well-being, the psychotherapist may suggest separate individual assessment.

Assessment

Assessment for Psychotherapy is up to 5 sessions and each session is 50 minutes. A psychotherapy assessment can be offered for two main purposes. One purpose of the assessment may be to establish whether a child or young person could benefit from psychotherapy. The other purpose of the assessment is to support with understanding the kind of help the child needs. An assessment gives the child an opportunity to experience the therapeutic process and to communicate their difficulties, which may be multi-faceted. Some difficulties may not even be recognised. An assessment can be helpful, as a child can feel significant relief as the process of help begins. Knowledge and understanding of a child’s difficulties can help to support and give guidance to parents and families alone and might not involve ongoing work.

My child in therapy

It can be difficult for parents to watch their children struggle with difficult feelings, especially when they might also be unsure of how to help them. It can also stir up a range of complex feelings when parents decide to seek specialist help. It can be a very generous act for a parent to allow their child to find their voice and understanding of their emotional life. However, this can also lead parents to feel that they have let their child down or that they are to blame for their child’s difficulties. This is usually not the case. Before beginning any individual work with a child a few appointments may be set aside for parents to explore some of these concerns. It is often found that children who begin to make some sense of their own emotional life in turn establish better relationships with those they are close to.

How to support your child

Children can often be anxious before therapy and may also be emotionally affected by the session in a way which means that afterwards, they may need quiet time to assimilate. It is most helpful for parents to support a child by being ‘available’ for them, but not to enquire too much about what was said or done in therapy. Often a simple question such as, ‘How did it go?’ can be enough. Some children may want to tell parents more information; others may choose to keep things private. It is important to give your child the message that it is fine for them to be private. Every child responds uniquely and variably to therapeutic help. Some seem to respond positively almost immediately, and others can take longer to engage initially before improvement is felt. As psychotherapy is a dynamic and developmental process, there are often challenges along the way. During the process of therapy, there may be harder periods, and children may not want to attend. Children may feel or appear to be suddenly ‘better’ before adequate integration has occurred. It is important then for parents to support them in continuing to come, to work through their anxieties (or wishes to end prematurely and suddenly) with the support of their therapist.

The option of separate parental space with another Psychotherapist, in parallel to the Child’s therapy may be arranged if required. 

Regularity

Children usually attend appointments weekly, in the same room, at the same time and day each week. Appointments last for 50 minutes from the agreed start time. Regularity, consistency, and continuity are important parts of therapeutic work. 

Timekeeping

Appointments will begin at the agreed time and last for 50 minutes. Please note that if a child is late arriving, their appointment time will necessarily be shorter. Please try to arrive on time, or just a few minutes before, for the confidentiality of yourselves and other clients.

Duration

In terms of the duration of psychotherapy, we agree on an anticipated timeframe and then review it as and when necessary. We usually discuss beginning with the intention that a child attends for one term. We then review the work before the end date. Usually, I invite parents to a review at the end of each academic term. We can meet more frequently if parents want this. 

I work in the short term, offer brief interventions and undertake long term psychoanalytic psychotherapy. This means I see children for as few as 6, 12 or 28 sessions. I also see some young people for once weekly, term time, psychoanalytic psychotherapy from one to five years. 

During the therapeutic process, I am continually reviewing engagement and progress and if it becomes evident, both from parents/carers and from my experience in the therapy room, that this agreed approach needs to be revised, we will reconsider together how to proceed. With everyone’s agreement, we can revise the timeframe and plan alternative approaches. Usually in longer-term work, I would suggest a planned ending of no less than 4-6 weeks as the ending period is an especially important aspect of the therapeutic work.

Confidentiality

Children and Young People’s sessions are private and confidential, and the therapist will not discuss the content of a child or young person’s therapy with parents. 

The psychotherapist must treat information given during psychotherapy appointments as confidential data. Only when there may be a safeguarding risk will the therapist need to consider disclosing information for the well-being and safety of the child.

During Parent Reviews, a child’s progress can be discussed but not the content of their sessions. 

Information Sharing

Psychotherapy services are provided with strict adherence to the Association of Child Psychotherapy Code of Ethics. The sharing of any information will be done strictly according to any ‘need to know’ basis, such as, if the health or well-being of a child is at risk. Should information need to be shared, clients and parents will be notified in the first instance.

For professional practice, psychotherapy notes are made and retained during therapy. These notes are anonymised, with no identifying features, and kept securely for the duration of therapy. Notes may be retained securely for a limited period after therapy ends for client care. For example, should a child need or wish to return. Clinical information must be shared on a ‘need to know’ basis only. As part of professional practice, a child may be discussed in clinical supervision which strictly adheres to the rules of practice and code of practice of the ACP.

Consent may be sought to provide information to GPs or schools/university if necessary. If so, the request will be discussed and agreed on and a separate form will be provided for consent.

In the event of a serious event or accident rendering me unable to practice, two clinical trustees have been appointed to oversee the care of my patients. These are child and adolescent psychotherapists. Clinical trustees can be contacted through the Association of Child Psychotherapists as below:

Complaints

In the first instance, it is helpful to talk about any issues that arise as soon as possible. If this is not resolved you can ask a third party, such as another psychotherapist, to give an opinion. If we cannot resolve issues or complaints then parents or children can contact the ACP, please see below.

The Association of Child Psychotherapists 

e-mail: admin@childpsychotherapy.org.uk

Further information

How Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy Can Help

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists work with infants, children, young people and ,where appropriate, their families to help with a wide range of mental health and emotional well-being issues that may include: 

ASD/ADHD/ADD

Aggression

Anger, agitation

Anxiety in a variety of manifestations including Obsessional Compulsive Disorder (OCD), panic attacks

and phobias

Behavioural issues

Bereavement

Depression

Developmental delay

Distress from abuse and domestic

violence

Eating difficulties

Emotional dysregulation

Gender dysphoria/incongruence

Low moods

Melt downs

Post-adoption support

Post-diagnosis support

Relational difficulties with parents, siblings or peers

Relationship difficulties

Self-harm

Suicidal thoughts

Trauma  

 Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists also work with individuals and families in relation to a wide variety of circumstances: 

Asylum seekers and Refugees

Care Experienced Children and Young people (previously known as Looked after Children)

Court work

Eating Disorders

Learning Disability

Parent Infant relationships and postnatal depression

Physical illness

Physical Disability

Post Adoption

Selective mutism

Sexual abuse  

About the Therapy

I help children and young people understand their internal emotional world, manage changing thoughts and feelings, and cope with challenges such as school life, puberty, adolescence, leaving home or exams. My approach supports the development of self-awareness and social understanding. I offer both short- and long-term psychoanalytic psychotherapy, including brief interventions of 6, 12, or 28 sessions, and longer-term, once-weekly therapy during term time for up to five years. When appropriate, I also offer monthly parent or family sessions.

Confidentiality and Communication

Sessions are private and confidential.
I will only share information if there is a safeguarding concern.
Any sharing of information (e.g., with GPs or schools) will be discussed and agreed upon in advance.
Letters or attendance at meetings can be requested. 

My Privacy Policy 

Contacting Me

Email: louise@yorkchildpsychotherapy.co.uk
I do not offer an out-of-hours service.

Holidays and Breaks

Usual breaks: Christmas, Easter, and August. Other breaks may occur during the year with advance notice. Occasionally, session times may need to change – alternatives will be offered where possible.

Payment Information

Invoices are sent at the end of each month.
Payment is due within 7 days of receipt.
Payment by bank transfer is preferred.

Data Protection and Record Keeping

Clinical records are non-identifiable and stored securely in a locked cabinet or a password-protected electronic document.

Names, addresses, and phone numbers are held only by me.

Your phone number may be saved in my mobile phone with your name only.

Your email is stored but you are not identifiable as a patient.

I regularly audit and securely delete information when no longer needed.

Clinical Governance and Emergency Cover

In the unlikely event that I am seriously ill and unable to practice, two clinical trustees will oversee your care. Their details are held by:

Association of Child Psychotherapists
Fivefields,  8-10 Grosvenor,  Gardens, London, SW1W 0DH.
Tel: 02045911500
Email: admin@childpsychotherapy.org.uk 

In an emergency, please contact:

CAMHS Crisis Team: call 111  open 24/7, select the mental health option (2)
Or your GP
Or go to your nearest Accident & Emergency Department

The website of the Association of Child Psychotherapists is a good source of information for parents, carers and young people who are concerned about mental health and want to know more about child and adolescent psychotherapy. 

Are you thinking of suicide? Please look at this link. Are you, or is a young person you know, not coping with life? For confidential suicide prevention advice contact HOPELINE247 or call 0800 068 4141. You can email pat@papyrus-uk.org 

Self harm is a powerful communication and needs to be understood and care taken. Information can be found here.  

If you are worried about child sexual abuse, grooming and/or exploitation please look at this page 

If neurodiversity such as Autism or ADHD/ADD is puzzling or causing emotional or relationship difficulties please look at this page as a starting point.

To begin thinking about managing disordered eating look at the information available at this link. 

This link provides information related to the new NHS gender incongruence service.