January 30, 2025
Therapy for children, young people and families
Discover personalised support to help families grow stronger, and children and young people to thrive.
About our services
We offer a safe, caring space, where children and young people’s concerns are taken seriously, and they can communicate their thoughts and feelings without being judged. Our qualified, experienced therapists use their skills to help children, young people and families process their experiences and heal.
The therapist may provide a safe space for the child or young person to talk things through, or use music, art or play to help express emotions and thoughts when it is hard to put things into words.
Our approach to therapy
Our approach to therapy and the individuals we support is rooted in evidence-based best practice. We are committed to delivering a service that is honest, supportive, and tailored to each individual’s needs.
From the moment you make a referral to the ending of your sessions, we ensure a thoughtful, child/young person-centred experience.
Navigating mental health together
Our knowledgeable therapists offer support across many areas of mental health. Here are just a few of the many challenges we can help address:
Anxiety
Helping children and young people to understand and manage overwhelming thoughts, fears, and physical symptoms.
Depression & low mood
Exploring why the child or young person feels this way, building strength, and improving mood, energy, and overall well-being.
Grief & loss
Helping children and young people manage the complex and often conflicting emotions around grief and loss in a safe space.
Relationship challenges
Building communication skills, improving understanding of each other, and providing skills to resolve conflicts constructively.
Download our client guide
Explore our comprehensive guide to learn more about our process, session structures,
and how we’re here to support you.
Download the guide 
Parent and carer support
We incorporate parental/carer support sessions into our work with children and young people. These sessions provide an opportunity for parents/carers to gain a deeper understanding of their child’s emotional and behavioural needs. By participating in regular reviews, parents/carers are better equipped to support their child’s progress and well-being at home.
These reviews do not usually involve the child or young person. However, if anything is shared from sessions, it is always checked with the child/young person first to maintain confidentiality (unless there are safeguarding concerns). Therapists will encourage the child or young person to share anything that might be useful for their parents/carers but are never pressured to do so if they chose not to.
Online, school and in person support
Depending on the child or young person’s needs and location, we can offer support in a number of ways. For those who prefer the convenience and privacy of their own homes, we can consider online sessions. In-school support helps to ensure children and young people receive the support they need with minimal disruption to their education. Additionally, for those seeking face-to-face sessions outside of a school setting, we provide support at our head office, creating a comfortable and safe environment for therapy.
Whatever place feels right for the child or young person, sessions remain confidential unless there are safeguarding concerns. This would be explained fully at assessment with the parents/carer, and in the child or young person’s first session.
Frequently asked questions
We aim to process referrals and begin the introductory sessions within three weeks of an initial telephone call taking place. If your availability is particularly limited this process may take slightly longer.
Sessions last for 50 minutes.
Sessions need to take place weekly to allow for appropriate continuity of support. In longer term cases, your therapist may recommend spacing sessions out to every 2 weeks at the end of support.
After the introductory sessions we can provide you with guidance on how long we expect the course of therapy to take. If you and your therapist feel that it would be beneficial to extend, this can be reviewed.
For safeguarding reasons, we ask all parents with children under 16 to remain on site during their child’s sessions.
Sessions take place directly with the client. If the client is your child, they will usually be the only person in the session, unless your therapist explains otherwise. If your child is unlikely to agree to attend sessions alone, please raise this with your allocated therapist as soon as possible.
Yes, sessions are confidential, meaning that what you share with your therapist will remain private. The only exceptions are if there are serious concerns about your safety or the safety of others, or if there is a legal obligation to disclose information, for instance in cases of abuse or neglect, court orders requesting disclosure or medical emergencies. If such situations arise, your therapist will discuss this with you whenever possible before taking any action. To find out more about this you can read our child safeguarding policy.
It is normal to feel unsure or to struggle to express what is on your mind. Your therapist is trained to create a safe, non-judgmental environment where you can think together, and open up at your own pace. Therapy can involve different approaches, such as creative exercises, mindfulness, or exploring feelings through questions, which may help you express yourself more comfortably. You are not alone in this, and your therapist will support you through the process.
Therapy with us is open-ended, meaning there is no set limit to the number of sessions you can have. The number of sessions varies depending on your individual needs and preferences. Some people find short-term therapy helpful, while others may benefit from longer-term support. After your introductory assessment sessions, your therapist will design a plan that best suits your goals. If you feel you would benefit from continuing, your therapist will explore this with you. Our therapists take an open and transparent approach and carefully balance your support needs with empowering you to end therapy when you feel ready.
Yes, children and young people can be seen at school with prior agreement from both the school and the child’s parents or carers. This can be a convenient and familiar setting for young clients, helping them feel more comfortable. Inspire Wellbeing Services works closely with schools to ensure sessions fit into the child’s timetable and confidentiality is maintained.
The child’s teacher will know that the young person is coming out of the classroom for a reason, but they do not need to know the detail. The therapist will talk with the young person about how to discreetly leave and re-enter the classroom for their sessions. The therapist will also explain that they do not share the content of sessions with anyone in the school, but do have to follow the school’s safeguarding procedures and inform Inspire Wellbeing Services if concerned about the young person’s well-being.
Available therapies
Art therapy is a type of therapy that uses creative activities like drawing, painting, or sculpting to help you express your thoughts and feelings. Sometimes it can be hard to put emotions into words, and art provides another way to explore what’s going on.
You don’t need to be good at art to benefit from art therapy—it’s not about making something perfect. Instead, the focus is on using the creative process to help you explore your feelings, work through challenges, and better understand yourself. A trained art therapist guides you through the process, creating a safe and supportive space for you to express yourself.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)-informed therapy helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and actions are connected. It’s based on the idea that negative patterns in thinking can affect how you feel and what you do, and by changing these patterns, you can feel better and make positive changes in your life.
In CBT-informed therapy, you work with a therapist to explore challenges you’re facing and identify unhelpful thought patterns or habits. You’ll learn practical tools and strategies to shift these patterns, so you can handle situations in a more balanced and healthy way. It’s often focused on the here and now, helping you with specific issues like stress, anxiety, low mood, or confidence.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) is a type of therapy that uses movement and dance to help you explore your emotions, express yourself, and feel more connected to your body. Sometimes it can be hard to put feelings into words, and moving your body can be a powerful way to process and communicate what you’re going through.
In DMP, you don’t need any dance experience—it’s not about how you move or whether it looks “good.” A trained therapist will guide you in using movement in a way that feels natural and comfortable for you. It’s about helping you connect your body and mind, releasing tension, and exploring your feelings in a safe and supportive space.
Dramatherapy is a type of therapy that uses creativity, storytelling, and acting to help you explore your thoughts and feelings. It’s a way to express yourself and work through challenges without needing to rely only on words. Whether through role-play, improvisation, or creating stories, dramatherapy offers a safe and imaginative space to explore what’s going on for you.
You don’t need any acting skills to take part—it’s not about performance or being in the spotlight. A trained dramatherapist will guide the sessions, tailoring activities to suit your needs. By stepping into a role, telling a story, or using creative play, you can gain new perspectives, process emotions, and find ways to feel more confident and in control.
Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) is a type of therapy that uses movement and dance to help you explore your emotions, express yourself, and feel more connected to your body. Sometimes it can be hard to put feelings into words, and moving your body can be a powerful way to process and communicate what you’re going through.
In DMP, you don’t need any dance experience—it’s not about how you move or whether it looks “good.” A trained therapist will guide you in using movement in a way that feels natural and comfortable for you. It’s about helping you connect your body and mind, releasing tension, and exploring your feelings in a safe and supportive space.
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a therapy designed to help people process and heal from difficult or traumatic experiences. Sometimes, after something upsetting happens, it can feel like the memory gets “stuck,” causing distressing thoughts, feelings, or reactions long after the event. EMDR helps you work through those memories so they no longer feel overwhelming.
In EMDR, you work with a trained therapist to focus on specific memories or feelings while doing simple movements, like following the therapist’s hand with your eyes. These movements help your brain process the memory in a way that feels less painful or intense. You don’t have to go into lots of detail about the experience if you don’t want to—the focus is on helping your brain naturally heal.
Music therapy is a type of therapy that uses music to help you explore and express your feelings, improve your mood, and work through challenges. It’s not about being a great musician or performer—it’s about using music as a tool for healing and self-expression.
In music therapy, you might listen to music, play instruments, write songs, or even move to music, depending on what feels right for you. A trained music therapist will guide the process and tailor the sessions to your needs. Whether you’re creating music or just enjoying it, the focus is on how it makes you feel and how it can help you.
NeuroAffective Touch is a therapy that combines gentle touch and/or self-touch with psychotherapeutic techniques to help you connect with and heal emotional wounds from early life experiences. It is especially beneficial for individuals who have experienced trauma, attachment issues, or emotional neglect during childhood. By integrating physical touch, this therapy helps to release stored emotional tensions, enhance body awareness, and improve emotional regulation. It offers a unique approach for those who find it challenging to express their feelings verbally. In a safe and nurturing environment, a trained therapist guides the process, tailoring the approach to your comfort and specific therapeutic needs.
Play therapy is a type of therapy designed for children, using play as a way for them to express their feelings and work through challenges. Sometimes, children find it hard to talk about their emotions, and play provides a natural, safe way for them to communicate and explore what’s going on for them.
In play therapy, a trained therapist uses toys, games, or creative activities to help the child feel comfortable and understood. Through play, the therapist can observe and gently guide the child to work through their emotions, build confidence, and develop healthier ways to cope. The goal is to help the child feel more secure, understood, and able to manage their feelings and behaviours.
Theraplay is a specific type of play-based therapy that focuses on building strong, positive relationships between children and their caregivers. It uses fun, interactive activities to strengthen trust, connection, and communication.
A trained therapist works with both the child and their caregiver together, guiding them through playful, nurturing activities that help improve their bond. The focus is on creating a sense of safety and warmth, helping the child feel loved and supported.
Psychodynamic counselling is a type of talking therapy that helps you understand yourself better by looking at how your past experiences, especially from childhood, might be affecting how you feel and act now. The idea is that some of our feelings and behaviours come from things we’re not fully aware of, and this therapy helps bring those things to light.
By talking with a counsellor in a safe and supportive space, you can explore your emotions, thoughts, and memories. This can help you understand why certain patterns keep showing up in your life and relationships. Over time, this understanding can help you feel more in control and make positive changes in your life.
Sensory integration assessment and therapy is a way of helping people who find it hard to process and respond to the world around them. Sometimes, our senses—like touch, sound, or movement—can feel overwhelming, or they might not seem to work in the way we expect. This can make daily life, learning, or relationships more challenging.
In sensory therapy, a trained therapist looks at how you experience the world through your senses. They use this understanding to create activities or strategies that can help you feel more balanced and comfortable. The goal is to help your brain and body work together more smoothly, so you can manage sensory input in a way that works better for you. Whether it’s for a child who struggles with certain textures or sounds, or an adult who feels easily overstimulated, this type of therapy is about finding ways to help you feel calmer, more focused, and better able to handle everyday life.
Systemic or family psychotherapy is a type of therapy that focuses on improving relationships within a family. It’s based on the idea that when one person is struggling, it often affects everyone around them, and by working together, the whole family can find better ways to support and understand each other.
In family therapy, everyone is encouraged to share their thoughts and feelings in a safe and respectful space, guided by a trained therapist. The focus isn’t on blaming anyone but on exploring how family dynamics, communication patterns, or past experiences might be influencing current challenges. Together, you’ll work on ways to improve understanding, resolve conflicts, and strengthen connections.
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