Young People 

I enjoy working with young people. In my work in a Cancer support centre I have provided counselling to young people whose lives have been affected in different ways by cancer. Our sessions have offered a safe space for young people to talk about their different and wide-ranging worries, fears, hopes and dreams including those linked to their experiences of cancer. 

During my 30+ years of working in education and social care services I have provided advocacy and support to young people dealing with many and varied stresses, anxieties, emotional challenges, different forms of loss and other life changing experiences. This includes young people with additional needs, care-experienced young people and care leavers and trans and gender non-conforming young people.

Young people I have worked with have told me that they find me easy to talk to about their thoughts, worries and feelings. They have also told me that they have appreciated having someone to talk to outside their family, friendship group and/or their education setting.

Like all of us, different young people communicate in different ways. In my sessions, I work with young people to find the best ways to support them to express themselves. Some of the young people I have worked with have found it helpful to use our sessions just to talk to me about how they’re feeling. Others have found it helpful to use art materials and other resources to help them explore and express their thoughts and emotions. This flexibility is something I can offer in my sessions. 

Feedback from my younger clients has included,

"It's felt calm talking to you. I used to be dead angry about everything before I came here but now I feel more able to control it. It's been good to talk to someone outside school." (From a 13 year old client)

"It's been good to have somewhere I can talk about my dad's illness without squashing the mood with my friends" (From a 17 year client)

"I generally feel happier now. It's been good having someone to talk to. Like taking a weight off my shoulders. I feel much fresher after a session. I am enjoying going into school now and seeing my friends." (From a 15 year client)