Gender affirming care is about recognising and respecting that trans people know who they are. It centres on listening, believing, and supporting people to live as their authentic selves.

Gender affirming care is often misunderstood as being only about medical intervention (or “transition”). But in practice, particularly for folks under 18 who will face barriers for medical intervention without both parent’s consent, affirmation can be low intervention, free of charge, simple steps that allow for change and exploration. For many young people, affirmation begins with having space to socially affirm their gender through name, pronouns and expression, which is commonly faced with a roller-coaster of anxiety, fear, doubt, excitement and validation.

This roller-coaster often takes whole family units along for the ride and requires professional specialised care, education, compassion and understanding for parents/carers and siblings, not just the young person. My approach to affirming care, where possible, involves connecting parents and carers to support for their young person AND for themselves, to promote connectedness as a family—even when times get tough.

It’s often said that when kids become teenagers, they need to pull away from their parents and lean more on their friends, who are seen as the most important influence at this stage of life. While it’s true that teens are drawn to independence and the influence of friends becomes stronger, parents continue to play a crucial role in this next stage of their child’s life, as they always have.

Throughout my years working with families, I frequently meet parents who want to stay connected to their young person but, through this “hands-off” narrative, feel disempowered and afraid of making a mistake as they strive to be involved in their teenager’s world.

The teenage years are full of change and a whole new set of “firsts”. New interests, shifting moods, more time spent online, and a growing need for space and privacy make this a time of constant adjustment. In my practice, I walk alongside parents and carers to explore safe ways to build steady ground in this new stage of family life that works for your family. Together we focus on getting to know your adult-in-training; rebuilding connection, establishing new boundaries, developing skills to have tricky conversations and creating small, meaningful rituals that keep your bond and communication alive as your relationship evolves.

Connectedness is about more than social networking or having 400 friends…

Connectedness is about more than just knowing people. It is about feeling seen, supported, and part of something bigger. When we are connected, whether to friends, family, or our community, life feels lighter and more meaningful. Feeling connected helps us bounce back from challenges, share joy, and grow together. Connectedness and belonging are two sides of the same coin. Being connected gives us relationships and links to the world around us, but belonging is the deeper feeling that we truly fit, that we matter in those spaces. Belonging shapes who we are and how we show up. It influences the choices we make, the people we trust, and the life we create. Without it, we can feel isolated, unsure, or like something is missing. When we belong, everything feels a little fuller, stronger, and more grounded. As a counsellor, supporting teenagers means recognising that their sense of identity, belonging, and connection is at its peak importance. Creating a safe, non-judgemental space where they feel truly seen helps them explore who they are and where they fit. Encouraging them to try out different interests, friendships, and communities strengthens connection and builds belonging. Guiding them to notice supportive relationships, navigate rejection, and make choices that feel authentic helps them grow confident in their emerging adult identity. Connection and belonging are the foundation for how they experience life, make decisions, and step into themselves.

As a parent, as a counsellor, and as a human being, we are watching in real time how social media shapes the way teens relate to each other. Online platforms can provide connection and entertainment, but they can also encourage constant comparison, highlight curated versions of others’ lives, and expose teens to cyber-bullying. These experiences can make it harder for young people to read body language, interpret tone, and develop confidence in real-life interactions.

In our work together, we explore strategies to strengthen face-to-face social skills and nurture friendships that feel genuinely fulfilling. We focus on building self-esteem, making safe and values-driven choices online, managing online pressures, and creating a sense of belonging that is more nourishing and enduring than the fleeting validation of likes or comments. By balancing online engagement with meaningful real-world connections, teens can develop confidence, resilience, and authentic relationships that truly support them.

When I work with teens experiencing anxiety or low mood, I help them make sense of what they are feeling and notice patterns in their thoughts and behaviours. Anxiety can show up as constant worry, overthinking, or physical tension while low mood might look like persistent sadness, fatigue, or losing interest in things they usually enjoy. Together we develop practical ways to manage these feelings in daily life and find strategies that actually work for them.

In sessions, I focus on approaches that fit into their real world, like noticing unhelpful thoughts, taking small steps in stressful situations, and learning simple ways to calm the body and mind. We also work on setting realistic goals and problem-solving so school, friendships, and family challenges feel more manageable. I involve parents or caregivers when it helps support the teen, while keeping their independence and sense of control at the centre.

Counselling young people dealing with academic pressure or perfectionism starts by slowing down the constant push to achieve. Together, we explore the underlying patterns and beliefs that drive the need to be the “perfect” student, friend, or child. Throughout my years of experience working within high school settings, both mainstream and selective, I have developed a deep insight into counselling high-achieving students, which involves exploring thought patterns, self-belief systems, and strengthening a young person’s relationship with their own self-value, in both success and missteps.

Using evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), counselling helps ease rigid, all-or-nothing thinking, sparks motivation, supports acceptance, and encourages a kinder inner dialogue, while building practical strategies for managing stress. The goal isn’t to dampen ambition, but to help them channel it in a way that is balanced and sustainable, allowing room for both drive and self-kindness.

When you or your young person are neurodivergent, life can feel like it’s running on a different rhythm, not wrong, just wired differently. My counselling approach starts with understanding and acceptance. ADHD and other neurodivergent profiles aren’t character flaws; they’re part of how a person experiences and interacts with the world.

Together, we build practical ways to work with the brain you’ve got, not against it. That might mean exploring new ways to manage time and focus, breaking down big goals into smaller, doable steps, or finding tools that actually make sense for you. We also look at emotional regulation, learning how to pause, reset, and respond rather than react, and tackle the self-doubt or frustration that often comes with feeling different.

I draw on evidence-based approaches like Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, mindfulness, and behavioural strategies, adapted to suit each person’s unique style and strengths. Family or support networks can be included when it helps everyone understand and communicate better.

This strengths based approach works with you to build confidence, self-understanding, and routines that make daily life feel calmer and easier to navigate.