Janet Ayling

Are you caring for a child or young person with high emotional needs?

Are you worried about a child or young person who is going through SEN diagnosis?

Is your young person struggling with school or becoming school avoidant?

Are their needs causing you to feel worried or anxious about them or their wellbeing?

Do you or they need support to feel the best version of yourself?

As a fully qualified and experienced person-centred counsellor, I aim to offer a safe and welcoming space for you to reflect on the experiences that have bought you to counselling and the individual way in which these experiences may be affecting your life.

Being able to reflect on these can be empowering and free you to move to a place of emotional and psychological fitness.

I offer counselling to children, young people, adults and families, but I am most passionate about working with children. I have always been passionate about offering children and young people a voice where they may sometimes struggle to be heard or feel misunderstood. I have received specialist training to work with children and young people from the very young into adulthood using play therapy, sand tray therapy and creative therapy where appropriate. 

My specialist area is working with children and young people who may have a SEN diagnosis or identify as having a SEN diagnosis. These may include but not be limited to:

• Autism 
• Dyspraxia 
• Adhd 
• Dyslexia 
• Dyscalculia 
• Dysgraphia 

I am passionate about working with children and young people with special needs to ensure they receive the appropriate support for them. I can offer support for children and families that are going through the diagnosis process, help in coming to terms with a diagnosis, help to develop coping strategies or support to deal with some of the associated behaviours that come with some SEN diagnoses.  

I also have extensive experience working with young people with anxiety, those who exhibit self-injury behaviours and disordered eating. These can feel especially distressing for parents and carers. Counselling can support your young person to look at the underlying reason for these behaviours and begin to think of what their individual recovery may look like. 

I have worked both privately and within the voluntary sector, where I have supported many children and young people with a variety of issues. Including: neurodiversity and the associated issues, those going through a diagnosis of being neurodiverse, depression, anxiety, self-injury, body image issues, body dysmorphia, survivors of domestic violence, child abuse, disordered eating, school and exam pressure, school avoidance, bullying, sexual orientation or gender questioning, suicidal ideations, bereavement, substance abuse, relationship problems, anger management and trauma. 

I am a member of both the BACP and the NCS, which means that I adhere to their strict code of ethics and practise within their ethical frameworks and codes of conduct at all times.  
 
Sometimes life can feel heavy, or you can feel as though you are stuck, but counselling can help you to make sense of what’s going on and empower you to move forward. 

Person-centred therapy places the expertise on the client. As your therapist, I am there to offer an empathic environment and support you while you are on your journey towards living your best life. Person-centred therapy is flexible, and client led. You decide how to use the space and what is most important for you to talk about each session and how those sessions look, whether that is working creatively or working with play therapy.
 
For many people; especially children and young people, starting therapy can be very daunting. Finding a counsellor that you feel safe and comfortable with is important. I believe that our therapeutic relationship is the key to change. I offer a free phone call to discuss your needs, once you have decided whether or not I am the right counsellor for you, we will have an assessment where we can discuss your needs in detail and what you're hoping to gain from counselling. Once trust is built, we can look at and work on what stands in the way of you becoming the best version of yourself.  

Seeking therapy isn't a sign of weakness it's a sign of strength. It shows that you have decided you are ready to face the things that you are finding the most difficult.

Change can be difficult and can bring up a whole abundance of emotions. I will be there to support you through your journey. 

I offer integrative therapy. I work on an individual basis based on my various training and experience to meet your needs as each person is different and no one type of counselling will work for all people.