Some signs that professional support might be helpful include persistent changes in mood, behaviour, or functioning that last more than a few weeks. This might look like withdrawal from friends and activities, significant changes in sleep or appetite, declining school performance, increased conflict at home, or your teenager expressing feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of self-harm.

Sometimes the suggestion comes from others ie. teachers, school counsellors, GPs, or other professionals who work with your teenager may recommend therapy based on what they're observing. Trust your instincts. If you're concerned, or if others who know your teenager well are suggesting support, it's worth exploring.

Many parents worry their teenager won't open up, especially if they're not communicating much at home. Therapists are trained to work with reluctant young people and understand that building trust takes time. Often teenagers are more willing to talk to someone outside the family who isn't emotionally invested in their choices. We start where they are and go at their pace.

That said, sometimes teenagers genuinely don't engage despite our best efforts, and that's okay too. Even when this happens, it's often worth exploring what therapy could offer, sometimes just knowing the option is there, or having one conversation about what's available, can plant a seed for future help when they're more ready.

Almost everything your teenager shares is confidential, with important exceptions around immediate safety concerns, such as serious thoughts of suicide, self-harm that's dangerous, or disclosure of abuse. We explain these limits clearly at the start so everyone knows what to expect.

This depends on your teenager's age, the issues they're working on, and what they're comfortable with. Sometimes family sessions are helpful, particularly when family relationships are part of what's being addressed. We always discuss this openly and work out an approach that feels right for everyone involved.

However, our priority is that therapy remains a safe space for your teenager to explore their thoughts and feelings openly. Sometimes maintaining that safety requires keeping the therapeutic space separate from family involvement, at least initially. This isn't about excluding parents, but about ensuring your teenager feels they can speak freely without worry about how it might affect family relationships.

It's not unusual for teenagers to feel resistant initially. We can often work with some ambivalence, but therapy works best when young people feel they have some choice in the process. Sometimes starting with a one-off session to explore what therapy involves can help reduce anxiety about the unknown.

Many teenagers actually prefer online sessions, they can feel more comfortable in their own space and it removes barriers like transport. Online therapy can be just as effective as in-person work, though some young people do better with face-to-face contact. We can discuss what might work best for your teenager.

First, contact us and we'll match you with a therapist who has availability and feels like a good fit for your teenager's needs. The therapist will then arrange a consultation with the parent—this is online and free of charge. They may invite the young person to join this conversation, or they may speak only with the parent initially.

This consultation is an informal conversation for the therapist to understand your child's needs and for you to ask any questions you may have about the process, approach, or practicalities.

Following the consultation, the therapist will typically schedule an assessment session where they first meet your teenager. This is about getting to know each other, explaining how therapy works, discussing confidentiality, and beginning to explore what they'd like to get from the sessions. There's no pressure to share deeply personal information straight away, it's really about building rapport and understanding whether therapy feels like something that could be helpful.