Counselling for young people aged 11–17 can offer a space to explore what’s happening in your life, make sense of your feelings and understand yourself better. But what actually happens when you come to counselling?

If you’re considering counselling in person in Basingstoke or online, you might be wondering what to expect, whether you’ll have to talk about difficult things, or whether you’ll know what to say. The good news is that you don’t need to have everything figured out before you come.

What does counselling for young people involve?

Counselling gives you somewhere to talk about what’s going on in your life without worrying about being judged or getting into trouble for what you say, feel or think.

I want our sessions to be a space where you can feel comfortable being yourself. That means we can talk about the things you might be finding difficult, but I’m also interested in the rest of your life: your friendships, interests, things you’ve enjoyed, things that have annoyed you or something you’re looking forward to.

You’re much more than the difficulties you might be experiencing, and getting to know you means making space for all the different parts of your life.

If you’d like to find out a little more about counselling and what it involves, the BACP has further information about counselling and psychotherapy

Getting to know each other

You don’t need to know how to talk about your feelings straight away. Sometimes it’s easier to start with what’s been happening during the week or something you’re interested in. Getting to know each other helps us build a relationship where you can feel comfortable and safe.

You might have a parent, teacher or someone else who thinks there are particular things you need to talk about. They may have their own understanding of what’s happening, but what someone else sees isn’t necessarily the whole picture. Your experience matters, and I want to understand things from your point of view.

I won’t make you talk about something just because I think you should. We can explore what feels important to you, at a pace that feels right.

What happens in a counselling session?

Sessions are up to 50 minutes, but counselling doesn’t always mean sitting and talking for that whole time.

We might use games, cards, creative activities, arts and crafts or worksheets if those are things you’d find helpful. Sometimes these can make it easier to explore thoughts and feelings without having to find all the words straight away.

Equally, there might be times when you just need somewhere to sit, have a breather and spend some time away from everything else. You don’t have to arrive with something to say or something you want to work on every week.

The sessions are your space, and we can work out together what feels helpful.

Your voice, your space

You might already have people in your life who give you advice, tell you what they think you should do or try to find solutions to the things you’re struggling with. Sometimes that can be helpful, but sometimes you might just want someone to listen and try to understand.

As your counsellor, I’m not here to tell you how to live your life or make decisions for you. Although I’m the counsellor, I don’t see myself as the authority on your life. You’re the person who knows what it’s like to be you.

I believe you have your own answers and understanding within yourself. Sometimes it can be difficult to access those when everything feels tangled or overwhelming. My role is to offer a space where we can begin to unravel things together, explore what you notice and gain new insights.

You also have a choice about what happens in our sessions. You don’t have to agree with everything I say, and you can tell me if something doesn’t feel right. If you’ve had enough after half an hour, that’s okay. You don’t have to use every minute of the session.

For me, counselling is about working alongside you, rather than directing you. Your thoughts, opinions and boundaries matter.

What about parents and confidentiality?

It’s important that you can trust the counselling space and feel able to speak openly. For the most part, what you share in our sessions stays between us.

There are some important exceptions. If I become concerned that you or someone else may be at serious risk of harm, or if I’m legally required to share information, I may need to speak to other people to help keep everyone safe. Wherever possible, I’ll aim to talk with you about this.

I understand that parents may also want support when their young person is having a difficult time. I offer separate parent consultations for parents of existing counselling clients whose young person is under 15. These provide an opportunity for parents to explore their own concerns, think about their relationship with their young person or consider whether additional information or support might be helpful.

A parent consultation doesn’t mean that the content of your counselling sessions is automatically shared. Before a parent consultation, I’ll ask whether there’s anything you’d like me to discuss with your parent or carer. If there isn’t, that’s okay. Your confidentiality remains important.

Is counselling right for you?

You don’t need to arrive at counselling knowing what you want to change, what you want to talk about or how long you might need it for. We can take things one step at a time and work out together what feels helpful.

You also have a choice about whether counselling feels right for you. If you come along and decide it’s not what you expected, or that it’s not the right fit, that’s absolutely fine. I’m not going to pressure you to stay or continue if it doesn’t feel right.

And if you’re a parent reading this because you’re wondering whether counselling might help your teenager, I hope this gives you a clearer picture of what I offer. The aim is to give your young person the opportunity to explore their own experiences and find their way forward.

Thinking about counselling?

I offer individual counselling for young people aged 11–17, in person in Basingstoke and online. You can find out more about the counselling I offer for teenagers, including what sessions involve and how I work.

If you’re a young person thinking about counselling, or a parent exploring whether it might be suitable for your child, you’re welcome to book a free 20-minute introductory call. It’s an opportunity to ask questions, find out a little more about how I work and decide whether taking the next step feels right.

There’s no expectation to make a decision during that call. Sometimes the first step is simply finding out what’s possible