Welcome to SOLIS THERAPY
Youth Counselling
Confidential Relationship-Focused
Online or in Person Counselling in Aberdeen, Scotland
Youth Counselling for
12 – 18 Year Olds
Children and young people are facing more pressure than ever today and sometimes all they need is a trained professional who will really listen and help them explore their feelings, thoughts and behaviours to help navigate through their most formative years.
Respecting the unique worth of every individual, I offer counselling to young people in a way that best suits their needs and communication styles. With almost a decade of experience helping children, young people and their families, my approach to counselling is integrative with emphasis on attachment theory as well as evidence based psycho-educational tools to support my clients in understanding their feelings and relationships, making sense of the world and their place within it. The goal often being to achieve a healthier relationship with themselves and others around them.
Free 20 Minute Consultation
It is important that clients, and if applicable their families, feel comfortable with the counsellor they choose to work with. This is a no commitment, no expectations call to gauge whether I am the right fit to support the young person. Simply send me an email using the contact form below so we can set up a suitable time. If we then agree to organise an initial appointment, an information pack will be sent that we will also review together at the initial appointment.
Initial Appointment
At the initial appointment (up to 90 minutes), I will meet with both the young person and the parent / carer separately. Over 16 year olds may choose to come alone. Sessions are client-led and some young people find it helpful if I just listen, others prefer if I ask more questions. Some may wish to share their stories with me right away, others may choose creative ways of communicating about their experiences. During our appointment, we will explore the reasons for coming to counselling, hopes for the future, what the young person wishes to achieve and the nature and frequency of our sessions going forward.
I will hold space for whatever is brought to the counselling room. This meeting is also a chance for me to explain in more detail how counselling might work.
Ongoing Youth Counselling
Appointments after the initial session will be organised regularly, where possible always on the same day, at the same time. Counselling is a therapeutic process and especially at the start it is most effective if weekly appointments can be kept. It would be difficult to indicate how many sessions a young person might need to work through certain issues. We will think about arrangements at the initial appointment together and will always go at the young person’s pace. We will frequently review the counselling process and the young person’s progress and clients may stop at any time.
These sessions are for the young person only and are conducted in confidence. I do not discuss the content of our sessions with parents, carers, schools, etc. unless I have any safeguarding or child protection concerns.
Face to Face vs. Online Counselling
Each individual engages in therapy in their own unique way. I offer face-to-face sessions in my comfortable therapy room in the heart of Bridge of Don, where I take care to keep the environment well ventilated, clean and sanitised between use. There is ample parking for accompanying adults with nearby café facilities. Video sessions are a more flexible option for those without access to transport or who find it easier to communicate virtually.
Video sessions might feel a bit different to meeting in person, however in my experience they can be just as effective.
Safeguarding
Clients’ safety is of utmost importance to me. I abide by the BACP’s (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy) ethical framework which requires me to regularly attend clinical supervision, engage in continuous professional development and provide a high level of care to everyone I’m working with. The counselling space and relationship aim to be safe for clients to explore thoughts and feelings. With my trauma-informed practice I appreciate that counselling may at times be an emotionally challenging experience and I will support you in this process.
Fees
20 minute video / phone consultation : free
Up to 90 minute initial appointment: £60
On-going regular 50 minute sessions: £40
Bank transfer and cash payments both available.
Who might benefit from youth counselling
I believe that therapeutic relationships can have a transformative effect on a young person’s life if they want to work through things that worry them. I have experience in working with, and I welcome enquires from, clients who would like to work through issues such as:
- Feelings of stress, pressure and anxiety.
- Sadness, low mood, depression or anger.
- Bullying or fears of not fitting in.
- Divorce, separation or instability in the family.
- Sexuality or gender.
- Worries surrounding school, college or future career.
- Unexplained physical pain.
- Self-harming behaviour.
- Trauma.
This is not an exhaustive list and are just some of the issues I can help young people with. I have experience successfully supporting both neurodivergent and neurotypical young people.
If the young person has a mental health diagnosis and has received, or is receiving support from the NHS, or other private practitioners, before deciding if we can work together, I might need to consult those also providing support for the young person.
Request a free 20 minute consultation
If you’re looking for a counsellor for your child, or you’re 16-18 years old and would like to speak to a counsellor in confidence, please fill in the call back request form so we can discuss how we might be able to work together. Please note that at the moment appointments are only available on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 am and 6.00 pm.
Data Protection
I bring the same level of respect and care to handling your data as I bring to our counselling relationship. If you decide to go ahead with counselling, Solis Therapy will only retain essential information on clients with their permission and in line with current GDPR policies. Clients have the right to review the information kept on file at any time.
Let’s connect!