Counselling for Teens

With many years working in high schools as a mentor and program counsellor, as a piano teacher, as well as my experience as a mother and aunty, I have seen and heard first hand from teenagers like you, the issues you have to deal with.

Why come to counselling?

It can be really difficult to talk about some of our worries, even with our closest friends or family. Counselling helps people deal with life's problems in a private, confidential and non-judgemental space.

Help dealing with big changes in adolescence

The teenage years are a time when we form our more mature identities, go through physical and emotional changes, and have a growing need for social acceptance and more independence from our parents. These changes can be exciting, daunting, stressful, or all the above at once! Add on big changes such as family separation, new schools, or friendship/relationship break-ups, and life can get pretty overwhelming. Sometimes our situation can feel hopeless, like nothing will never change. Counselling can help you find your strengths and pathways to a better life and it can help you deal with any difficult feelings that come up.

Life skills for teenagers

Counselling also helps if you are struggling with low confidence, anxiety or stress. I can help you learn to understand how these emotions work, and practice some skills that you will use for the rest of your life to help you deal with these feelings.

How we would work together

Collaboration: As your counsellor I will work with you, rather than tell you what to do. You have control of how much, and what, you want to tell me about. Sometimes just talking through your situation and your feelings or ideas about a problem can be enough. Other times we might brainstorm and evaluate actions you can take, or look other ways to view things. I may offer you some suggestions that have helped other people and we can explore whether these might work for your situation. I often work in fun and creative ways so our sessions will be enjoyable for you - we might play games, express feelings through artwork, music making or journalling, or write a letter you never intend to send - so it's not all talking!

Privacy: What we speak about in our sessions is confidential. The only time I would have to tell someone about our conversation is if I think that you or someone close to you is at risk of serious harm. If this is the case, I will discuss with you what I need to disclose, and to whom.