Services

Online support from a paediatric clinical psychologist

  • Psychological therapy always begins with an initial assessment. This might sound a bit intimidating but it’s actually just a friendly chat. I will send you a secure, video link ahead of time. It’s important to find a comfortable spot with your phone, tablet or laptop, where you’re not going to be disturbed. We’ll introduce ourselves and i’ll explain what you can expect from the session. I’ll then ask you to tell me a bit about yourselves, your health journey, your challenges and what you would like to achieve through therapy. At the end of the assessment we will decide together on a plan going forward to ensure you are receiving the best support. This may include arranging a series of sessions together or being signposted to other more appropriate support services.

  • As parents/caregivers, you know your child best. However, it’s easy to feel stuck at times or unsure of the best way to support them with the emotional challenges around their health difficulties. Working together, I can help you to feel empowered and equip you with ideas, resources and approaches to meet your child’s needs.

    I also provide a compassionate space, to help you explore the affect that your child’s healthcare journey has had, or is having, on you. Caring for a child who is experiencing health issues can entail a wide range of difficult emotions – from stress and worry to trauma and grief. You might feel understandably overwhelmed by the logistics of managing medical appointments, liaising with doctors and teachers, organising prescriptions and treatment schedules, all whilst trying to maintain a job, household and care for your other children. If so, making space for ‘self-care’ can feel impossible. However, for the parents/caregivers I have worked with, dedicating that regular bit of time to therapy has made a significant difference to their mood, confidence and ability to cope.

  • Living with a health condition can be really hard for anyone, but it can feel particularly tough when you’re a child or young person. Here are some of the things I have helped to support children and young people with in the past:

    • Fears around blood tests, needles and other hospital procedures.

    • Worries about their health and future.

    • Frustration and low mood around the impact of their health condition on their life, identity and relationships.

    • Feeling low in motivation to stick to treatment routines.

    • Feeling ‘it’s not fair!’ and wondering ‘why me?’

    • Anger at all the extra demands their health condition puts on them.

    • Feelings of shame, embarrassment or being self-conscious about certain aspects of their health condition.

    • Worries about what others will think of their health condition and feeling unsure about how to talk about it.

    If any of these things sound familiar to you, then you’re not alone. Talking about your feelings and experiences with a psychologist  can help.

  • I offer a liaison service, where I communicate with other professionals in your life, to convey my understanding of your child’s challenges and to explain how their emotions might be best supported in that particular setting. I can offer this through online meetings or written letters/ reports.