Rosemary Kearsey BSc MEd (Counselling) MBACP - Counselling for adolescents

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Counselling for adolescents – notes for parents

If you are concerned about a teenage son or daughter, you may like to consider suggesting to them that they try counselling. During adolescence, some young people find that issues which they have suppressed during childhood rise to the surface and become very difficult to deal with. At this stage of their development, many young people prefer not to share their thoughts and feelings with those closest to them. Meeting with an impartial person, who listens carefully and is not judgemental, can help them to bear feelings which might otherwise overwhelm them.

One way that I describe counselling to young people, is to explain that it offers them a safe space to explore their feelings. I am happy if they want to sit and talk, but many of them find it helpful to use the clay, paint or other expressive media, which I have available.

I work with young people whether they self-refer or the first contact is made by their parent. However, if they are under 16 years of age, I meet them with their parents before engaging in any on-going work, in order to explain my confidentiality policy. Confidentiality is particularly important to many adolescents, who may find it extremely difficult to share their thoughts and feeling. The prospect of what they share being passed on to someone else may lead them to continue to bear their burden alone. So I ask parents to agree that the content of all sessions should remain confidential within the limits of my child protection policy. However, if a client wants my support to share things with their parents, I am happy to arrange a joint session for these to be discussed.

My work is regularly supervised by an experienced counselling supervisor, in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework.

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