Psychological Therapy for Children & Young People
We support families from across Chester and Cheshire, including families travelling from Northwich, Kelsall, Tarporley, Frodsham and surrounding areas. Online appointments may also be available where appropriate.
What Can We Help With?
Our experienced Clinical Psychologist can help support you and your family or students with a range of difficulties. Some are listed below and you can always get in touch with us if you have any other questions.
Anxiety and Worry
Low mood
Separation Anxiety
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
Trauma and Difficult Life Experiences
Physical Health Conditions, both long-term or acute conditions
Adoption and Special Guardianship Support
Neurodivergence and adjustment
Continence difficulties
Bereavement and Loss
School-related difficulties
Fears and phobias
Self-esteem and confidence
Adjustment to significant events
Parenting support
What do Clinical Psychology sessions look like?
Clinical psychology sessions are tailored to the individual child or young person, their developmental stage, their needs, and the goals they want to work towards. There is no single way that therapy looks, and sessions may change over time as we understand more about what is helpful for the young person and their family.
Therapy appointments typically last 50 minutes. They provide a safe, supportive and confidential space where the young person and/or their family can feel heard, make sense of what they are experiencing, and begin to develop practical ways of managing difficulties and moving towards their goals.
Depending on the young person’s age, presentation and needs, sessions may include:
Individual sessions with the young person – providing dedicated time to explore thoughts, feelings, behaviours, relationships and experiences in a way that feels appropriate and manageable for them.
Parental support – working with parents or carers to understand their child’s difficulties, develop strategies to support them at home, and consider how relationships and family dynamics may be contributing to or helping with the difficulties.
Family sessions – involving all or some members of the family where this would be helpful. These sessions can provide an opportunity to understand different perspectives, improve communication and work together towards positive change.
Creative and play-based approaches – particularly for younger children, therapy does not always involve simply sitting and talking. Depending on their age, developmental stage and needs, sessions may incorporate play, drawing, storytelling, games, creative activities or other therapeutic techniques. These approaches can help children communicate and explore experiences that may be difficult to put into words.
A combination of approaches – sessions can be adapted depending on what the young person needs. Some sessions may involve talking and reflection, while others may focus on developing practical strategies, processing difficult experiences, supporting parents or using creative activities.
The focus of therapy is always collaborative. We will work together to understand what the young person and family would like to change and identify goals that feel meaningful and achievable. The approach and content of sessions will then be adapted to suit the individual rather than expecting every child or young person to engage with therapy in the same way.
Therapeutic Approaches
Clinical Psychologists are trained in multiple therapeutic modalities, and these approaches are often integrated based on an individual’s unique needs. The suitability of the therapeutic approach is informed by the initial assessment and individual goals. All therapeutic approaches are guided by scientific research and align with the recommendations set by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence.
Below you can find some of the approaches delivered by our clinic.
Therapeutic Models
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Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an evidence-based therapy that helps children process difficult and traumatic experiences as well as anxiety, phobias, grief, and more. By using guided eye movements, taps, or sounds, EMDR helps the brain reprocess distressing memories, reducing their emotional impact in a safe and supportive environment. EMDR is tailored to a child’s developmental needs, often incorporating play and creative activities. It’s an effective way to help children feel more secure, confident, and in control of their emotions.
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CBT is a goal-orientated therapeutic approach, that helps individuals identify and understand how their thoughts influence their emotions and actions. And in turn, how behaviours can affect emotions and thoughts. It aims to break unhelpful thinking patterns and cycles. By teaching practical skills, CBT empowers individuals to manage challenges and improve how they cope with life stressors. CBT has a wide evidence-base for effectiveness in treating a range of difficulties, such as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), depression, post-traumatic stress and many more.
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CFT is a therapeutic approach that emphasizes self-compassion and kindness towards ourselves and others. It explores the role of the compassionate mind in alleviating emotional distress, particularly in individuals struggling with shame and self-criticism. These feelings can often arise following abuse, neglect or trauma. CFT integrates techniques to enhance emotional regulation, foster empathy and cultivate a supporting inner dialogue, aiming to promote emotional well-being and resilience. CFT has been shown to be effective across a range of emotional difficulties.
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ACT is a therapeutic model focusing on developing psychological flexibility when encountering difficult thoughts and feelings. ACT emphasises the importance of clarifying personal values and committing to meaningful actions in line with those values. By fostering acceptance, mindfulness and commitment to values, ACT aims to empower individuals to lead more fulfilling lives, even in the presence of challenges or adversity. Rather than struggling against difficult thoughts and emotions, ACT focuses on changing the relationship to them, allowing for greater flexibility and resilience when facing life’s difficulties. ACT has been found to be effective in a range of difficulties, including dealing with physical health conditions and grief.
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Narrative therapy is a collaborative and empowering approach that helps young people and families recount and reframe their life stories. Narrative therapy focuses on the stories we tell about ourselves and our lives. It helps us examine the origin of beliefs and behaviours as well as identify unhelpful or limiting stories. Narrative therapy fosters a process of re-authoring our own narratives, changing the way we understand and communicate our experiences. It promotes personal growth and resilience, focusing on how we use language and construct meaning. Narrative therapy has been shown to be effective in helping in a range of difficulties, including depression, anxiety, trauma and relationship problems.
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Systemic therapy looks at individuals within the context of their relationships and the larger systems they are part of, such as family, work, or social networks. Instead of focusing on the individual, systemic therapy considers how the interactions and dynamics within systems contribute to issues and difficulties. Systemic therapy is known for its flexibility and adaptability to various cultural contexts and family structures. Your psychologist will work with the whole family or parts of the family to identify patterns of communication, behaviour and relationships that might be causing difficulties. The goal is to understand and address these patterns collaboratively, fostering positive changes within the system. Its aim is to improve overall wellbeing and create healthier, more functional relationships. Systemic therapy has extensive evidence base supporting its effectiveness for a range of mental health and relational difficulties.