Children and Young People
I wish Id know this stuff when I was younger. Growing up I was incredibly shy. I would try to blend into the background, keep quiet and would get easily embarrassed if any attention was drawn to me.
I had so many hobbies and interests, but because I was anxious meeting new people, I avoided joining group activities that I know I would have loved.
The support available when I was younger wasn’t as readily available as it is now and mental health wasn’t really talked about.
Because of this lack of understanding, I was just labelled as shy and that was that.
The problem with things not being addressed when we’re younger, means it can follow you through your teens and into adulthood. Which is exactly what happened to me.
But it doesn’t have to be this way for you.
For the past 14 years I have supported children and young people from the age of 5 – 18 to better understand their struggles and to build their confidence and self-esteem.
With the right nurturing support, any child can thrive.
Things I can help with
Emotional regulation
Being able to manage your emotions and settle into class without getting into trouble
Being able to talk about your feelings instead of having big outbursts
Understanding why you feel angry and how to express this in a healthy way
Social Skills
Making new friends
Speaking with confidence
Learning to say no in a respectful way
How to open up to others and build trust in your relationships
Independence
getting public transport, going to the shop, joining a gym
sleeping in your own bed
Confidence
Attending school regularly
Putting your hand up in class to answer questions
Join new group activities
Trying new things
Self -esteem
Feel more positive about yourself instead of judging yourself
Improved body image
Become more accepting of yourself
Stop comparing yourself to others
How does it work
I’m a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, which is a specific type of talking therapy that focuses on how our thoughts impact our feelings and behaviours.
For example, if someone thinks “I’m rubbish at sport” then they’re probably going to feel pretty “sad and disappointed”. They might then avoid going to their pe lesson and complain that they feel unwell to get out of going.
This is what we call the ‘Vicious Cycle’
I help children and young people to find out what their vicious cycles are, so we can understand what’s keeping them stuck.
We will work as a team; to find other ways we might think about things and more helpful ways of coping.
For example, instead of thinking “I’m rubbish at sport” I could think, “Its ok not to be good at everything. I’m good at lots of other things” or “I’m not the best at throwing, but I’m pretty fast and I’m a great team player” or “I’m still learning and need more practice and that’s ok”.
What do you notice when you read these statements?
How would these thoughts make you feel?
It’s possible that the person might feel a bit more hopeful and accepting. This might then lead to them going to pe to try and improve their skills, or they might go and just enjoy it for what it is, without putting themselves under pressure.
This is how we can start breaking out of the vicious cycles that hold us back.
The more we are able to break these cycles, the more confident and happier we become.
“I would like to say a huge thank you for all the help that you’ve given me. I feel so much more confident and accepting of myself, and as a result life has now felt more peaceful”
Client aged 19 with low self-esteem