Working with teens: what’s good to know.
- Young people have got to want to come to counselling, it doesn’t work if they are only coming to please other people; it has to be their choice.
- I’ll be there to help them work out what is going on, but not to poke and prod at the sore stuff. It’s up to a young person what they share; so it’s probably helpful for them to know that talking is hard, but I won’t be forcing them to talk and I certainly can’t read their minds.
- Trusting a new person takes time, we go at their pace, no-one else’s. When a young person feels safe enough to trust, then generally the talking starts.
- A young person’s stuff is confidential. There will be no feedback to parents/family/school. My job is to keep what they tell me safe.
- Confidentiality is important but so is safety. Together with a young person, we will agree that if there are any safeguarding issues , and that means them or someone close to them, being at risk of immediate harm; (physical/sexual abuse or a suicidal plan), then our agreement will be that we talk to someone who can keep them safe.
- Counselling is a 2-way relationship; my commitment will be to help each young person look at what is tough and work hard to help them feel better. I’ll need a commitment from them; that they want this to happen, and that they’ll agree to come to sessions consistently.
- The process for accessing support for your young person is the same as accessing sessions for adults; if you want to make contact, then we can have a discussion around what you are worried about, and what your young person feels about coming to counselling. From there, we can make arrangements for a session with the young person at my counselling space in Banchory or in my counselling room in Torphins. Of course parents/carers can come along and support a young person to meet me, but there-after, I generally ask them to come back when the 50 minutes are up.
- Arrangements for on-going sessions typically work better when made directly between me and the young person. Generally I will send an email or text to both you and your young person, to confirm the day and time of their session. If there is to be any on-going contact with a parent, for any other reason, then it is important this is transparent and understood by everyone.
- Fees will be expected to be paid on the day of the counselling session. This will be an agreement between myself and a young person’s parent or carer. I will not discuss the payment arrangements or fees with a young person, not will I ever ask them to make a payment.
- Cancellations with young people are more common than adults because their lives can be more hectic. I will always try to be flexible in accommodating this. However, if 24 hours notice isn’t given, then I’m afraid there’s still a cancellation fee of £30.
- If a young person decides that they want to end their counselling sessions, then I will make contact with the parent/ carer who made the initial contact to let them know. This is their choice.
