Counselling for children, young people and their families in Bude, North Cornwall
A lot of support for neurodivergent children focuses on strategies: tools for managing behaviour, techniques for fitting in, ways of coping with a world that wasn’t built for them. That kind of support has its place. But it isn’t what I offer, and in my experience it isn’t where the deeper change happens.
What I offer is something different: a relational space where a child can stop performing, stop adapting, and just be themselves.
Many neurodivergent children, whether they carry a diagnosis or not, spend enormous energy presenting a version of themselves that the world finds more acceptable. Autism, ADHD, PDA, dyslexia, and plenty of presentations that don’t come neatly labelled. I’ve been working with children and young people like this for a number of years, and I care about this work deeply.
The therapeutic relationship, when it’s working, is where that mask can come off. And that’s where something real becomes possible.
How I work
I work relationally, creatively, and without needing a diagnostic category to tell me who I’m sitting with. Diagnosis or not, it doesn’t change how I meet a child in the room. I meet the person, not the label.
Sessions are face-to-face in Bude, and are confidential and centred on the child. We explore what’s happening in their world at their own pace, in ways that feel natural to them, not through a script or a programme.
I work in a gender-affirming way. Children don’t need to defend or justify their identity in the therapy room.
How parents are involved
The work in the room only goes so far without people at home who understand what their child is moving through. So I support parents directly too.
Before starting work with a child, I have a free thirty-minute call with the parent or carer. From there, we work together: regular check-ins to reflect on progress, practical ideas for strengthening connection at home, and space for parents to explore their own responses without judgement.
The most lasting change happens when parents and children learn together. Your relationship with your child is one of the most significant influences on their emotional world, and that’s where we focus.
Parents often contact me when:
- A child has received, or is being assessed for, an autism, ADHD or PDA diagnosis, and the family want relational support rather than just strategies
- A child is masking heavily at school and falling apart at home
- Emotional or behavioural changes are causing stress within the family
- There are signs of overwhelm, shutdown or withdrawal
- A child struggles to express big feelings without explosions or tears
- Family communication has become tense or difficult
- Parents feel stuck and unsure how best to help
Every family’s story is different. We create an approach that fits yours.
If you’re a parent wondering whether therapy might be right for your child…
You’re welcome to get in touch. The first step is a free thirty-minute call, with no obligation. We can talk about what’s happening, what your child might need, and whether working together feels like the right fit.
Sessions with children take place in person in Bude, North Cornwall.
I do not generally offer online therapy for children, although I may make an exception when a young person is unable to leave their home due to anxiety, illness or extreme distress.