Children

Working with children (7+)

 

Supporting Children

Until around the age of seven, children can’t clearly tell the difference between what’s real and what’s imaginary. They absorb everything around them — sights, sounds, words, emotions — with little or no questioning. What they see, hear, and feel becomes part of their developing story of how the world works.

Children learn by doing and by feeling. They pick up signals from their environments, their parents, teachers, and friends, often without any conscious filter. This is how their minds begin to form patterns — the early building blocks of self-belief, confidence, and behaviour.

Many of these experiences are positive and nurturing, but sometimes a misunderstanding, a harsh word, or a moment of feeling unseen can leave a quiet mark. Over time, these small moments can grow into patterns of worry, low confidence, or emotional sensitivity that shape how a child sees themselves and others.

The good news is that these patterns are not fixed. Research shows that early therapeutic support can make a significant difference:

  • Up to 70% of children who receive evidence-based therapy show lasting improvements in emotional wellbeing.

  • Over 80% of parents report noticeable positive changes in confidence, calmness, and communication after a short course of therapy.
    (Source: UK Child Outcomes Research Consortium, 2023.)

Therapy helps children reframe their experiences, understand emotions, and develop lifelong coping tools — all through play, imagination, and story-based learning.

For some children, especially those with neurodivergent traits such as ADHD, ASD, AuDHD, or sensory processing differences, the world can feel even louder and more demanding. Everyday experiences — changes in routine, social misunderstandings, or sensory overload — can impact friendships, confidence, and family harmony. Small frustrations may build up, leading to meltdowns, withdrawal, or challenges with communication. My role is to help your child understand their unique brain, to build self-acceptance and resilience, and to help families reconnect with empathy and calm.

Solution Focused Therapy can help your child create new neural pathways — freeing them from old patterns and helping them flourish. Sessions are online, relaxed, and tailored to each child’s world. I use imagination, metaphors, and gentle storytelling to help children find practical tools they can use every day to manage emotions and grow in confidence.

Sessions are online or here in my therapy room in Worthing, West Sussex, and parents are always welcome to attend sessions. 

I’m fully insured, enhanced DBS checked, and bring over 20 years of experience supporting children and families with compassion, humour, and understanding.