About me
Hello, my name is Stella. I am a BACP Accredited Integrative Child and Adolescent Therapist with a Clinical Specialism to actively support children and young people during times of challenge . I currently meet with younger clients between the ages 6 - 26 years in Private Practice, Schools, University and as a Clinical Supervisor. I know that that starting the process of finding the right therapist for a child or young person can be anxiety provoking in an already demanding time. My profile seeks to help you to gain clarity towards; how I work, why I work in the way I do, what I know and how working with a specialist can help .
Working theraputically with children and young people requires a specific skill set to; developmentally assess, understand, safeguard and respond to what can be complex, changeable, sharp and anxiety making for everyone involved. For this reason, my Clinical Approach as; Attachment focused, Trauma treatment Informed, SEND guided, Relational, Developmentally based, Creative and grounded in solid clinical knowledge about stress responses, emotional regulation and how to work from a ' what's happened ' rather than a ' what's wrong' with you approach.
I really understand that no two children or young adult experiences their lives in the same way. To respond to this, I always start from where a young person is today and specifically so. Client's often share anxieties towards finding the words for their experiences or feelings for their words. To respond to this, I can offer young people a range of options to navigate what is important to them or worrying for them - beyond talking alone. We may use aspects of the creative arts, writing, music, or explore psychoeducation about what can happen inside of us, when when we are overwhelmed and stressed.
What can mysupport start to respond to? I know that Children and Young Adults cannot make good, sustainable or healthy decisions when they are feeling 'full up' of anxiety, mixed feelings or impulsive behaviours. Therapeutic support with me seeks to offer another non judgemental and private space relationship to; slow down, check in on potentially limiting beliefs, notice unhelpful or confusing patterns and ultimately start to process what is important to them. Young people regular tell me they fear being a burden to friends and family, and may also be questioning 'who knows best'.
Parents & Carers can access regular Thinking Spaces, acknowledging that this support goes beyond the session and can help with relationships everywhere in time.
A tip if i may! Parents/carers of teenage children may wish to share the profiles and websites of therapists you may be interested in. Many young people can identify who they resonate with and who they may wish to meet with. This can be really useful for setting up a period of support that is consensual, co- created and includes the voice of the young person.
Safety is at the core of my work with a client group that can; test boundaries, rapidly change their minds, change behaviour and at times engage in risky or impulsive acts. For this reason, all parties will be really clear on my role and position re managing themes like Confidentiality & Risk (with minors under 16).
Training, qualifications & experience
I am currently a Therapist, Clinical Supervisor and have founded an independent Schools Based Counselling service in East London. I hold close to 10 years of post qualification experience in supporting very vulnerable children, young people, young adults and the families around them during times of challenge. I work very closely with Safeguarding teams, Sencos, Senior leadership teams, Mental Health Professionals (Nurses and Occupational health) which affords my private work a fully professional and 'real world' context towards the very latest guidelines, safety measures and professional conduct to support Parents and Children during times of distress.
I have solid Clinical knowledge and Clinical responsibility for children and young people across a spectrum of experiences and mental health needs - from challenges to; managing relationships or changes to family life - to children and young people who are living with multiple adverse childhood experiences, Developmental Trauma and Complex Trauma, Deficits in relating and Attachment Injuries, as well as Children and Young people who are currently holding EHCP plans or LAC or CIN/CP Local Authority status.
Beyond this, I hold a formal qualification in Supervision and am currently supporting the professional development of the next generation of other Child and Adolescent Practioners (and practioners from a range of modalities working with Adults and Groups).
I offer parent thinking spaces and reflective practice spaces for professionals work in the field of supporting vulnerable children and families.
I place a high quality focus on clear and robust responses to themes of Risk and Safeguarding at the heart of my work, especially when working with minors who are often unable to advocate for themselves. Whether it is in the School based Counselling Service I have founded, or private practice, or within University Mental Health support - I have very solid risk and safety planning experience.
Member organisations
school Registered / Accredited
Being registered/accredited with a professional body means an individual must have achieved a substantial level of training and experience approved by their member organisation.
BACP is one of the UK’s leading professional bodies for counselling and psychotherapy with around 60,000 members. The Association has several different categories of membership, including Student Member, Individual Member, Registered Member MBACP, Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Accred) and Senior Registered Accredited Member MBACP (Snr Acccred). Registered and accredited members are listed on the BACP Register, which shows that they have demonstrated BACP’s recommended standards for training, proficiency and ethical practice. The BACP Register was the first register of psychological therapists to be accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA). Accredited and senior accredited membership are voluntary categories for members who choose to undertake a rigorous application and assessment process to demonstrate additional standards around practice, training and supervision. Individual members will have completed an appropriate counselling or psychotherapy course and started to practise, but they won’t appear on the BACP Register until they've demonstrated that they meet the standards for registration. Student members are still in the process of completing their training. All members are bound by the BACP Ethical Framework and a Professional Conduct Procedure.
Accredited register membership
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Other areas of counselling I deal with
Whilst this profile describes my primary work with Children and Young people between the ages of 6 - 26 years, I also offer other types of support and connection.
- Clinical Supervisor ( Certified) for Counsellors and Psychotherapists - Individuals and Groups
- Thinking Spaces for Professionals working with Children, Adolescents, in Social Services, in Education, Send Professionals, Teaching and Support staff and Headship consultation around Multiagency working Mental Health team members
- Reflective spaces for parents and carers who may need a place to respond to their own needs, internal stories or simply want a space to slow down and reconnect to challenges they may face in child or adult relationships around them
- A specific body-based trauma treatment for people who have experienced complex trauma, single traumatic experiences or a sudden loss or change in their lives. All ages welcome within this longer-term clinical offer. All work will be carefully and sensitively contracted together to it is safe, co - created, inclusive and consentual.
Therapies offered
Fees
£80.00 per session
Concessions offered for
Health Insurance/EAP
When I work
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