Psychological Specialities

Symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder can present differently from person to person, but can include constant worrying, a sense of dread and difficulty concentrating.

Because symptoms and causes vary so much, I believe it’s really important not to generalise and assume one method of treatment will work for all. Therefore I get to know your child and you on an individual basis, working through step by step to find a plan that will work for the individual circumstances.

A phobia is an extreme fear of something or a situation. Common symptoms of a phobia can be anxiety and or a sense of panic when you come into contact with the cause of your phobia.

Treatments for phobias can include talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, and sometimes medicines. Just like any other mental illness it’s important not to assume that one therapy will fit all, and especially with children and adolescents. Getting to know each other, building that trust is where we can find the best course of individual action to help your child feel better.

Difficult events and experiences can leave us in low spirits or cause depression. It could be relationship problems, bereavement, sleep problems, stress at school during exams, bullying, chronic illness or pain.

Sometimes it’s possible to feel down without there being an obvious reason. Working together I can help your child to understand what might be the cause, and give them and you the tools to make it easier to cope with or even overcome these periods of low mood and depression.

Self-harm is when someone hurts themselves on purpose as a way of trying to manage distressing or overwhelming feelings and experiences. Hurting themselves may feel like the only way to cope. Or, they might feel numb and hurt themselves in order to feel something.

As a parent, knowing your child is self-harming can be incredibly worrying and upsetting. The important thing to remember is that I am here for you and your child and together we will find a way for your child to find different and more positive ways of coping with their feelings.

Most children will have dips in self-esteem as they go through different stages or challenges in life, and there are different pressures that may affect them – including social media, bullying, exams, family problems and abuse.

If you are worried your child’s low self-esteem is affecting their day-to-day life, relationships or ability to learn and develop,then I am here to help them and you find ways to improve their self-esteem and see all that is good inside and out.

Our relationship with food can change, particularly during childhood and teenage years, and this is ok. Appetites may change at different ages and this is normal; some eat a lot or eat anything, others are more particular. Younger children often refuse to eat certain foods and teenagers may try ‘fad diets’. Most of us have tried out different eating habits or diets at some time in our lives, and this is not necessarily a cause for concern.

Young people’s problems with food can begin as a coping strategy for times when they are bored, anxious, angry, lonely, ashamed or sad. Food becomes a problem when it is used to help cope with painful situations or feelings, or to relieve stress, perhaps without even realising it. Children may perceive their body shape differently than those around them. It is useful to know that an eating problem is usually symptomatic and suggests there is an underlying problem that needs to be identified, understood and treated.

By working together I can help your child and you understand these underlying problems, the triggers and help them develop a tool kit in order to have a healthy and even fun relationship with food once more.

At different points in our lives everyone experiences upsetting and difficult situations, and it is very normal to feel sad or stressed because of this. When difficult things happen, lots of children and young adults can find the support they need and feel better with time. Sometimes, however, certain events or experiences can be traumatic – and these can leave a young person struggling with their mental health over a much longer period of time.

As their parent you can provide an incredibly important part of the help they might need – emotional support and a loving, safe space. Combined, you and I, through listening and by working together towards a solution to feel happier again, we can make an enormous difference.