Why Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT is an evidence-based therapy that has been found to be effective in treating young people struggling with a variety of common mental health difficulties both 1:1 and via parents. For more information go to our CBT page to find out how CBT works and which conditions it can be used to treat.
What does a therapy session look like?
Therapy sessions are usually 50 minutes long. CBT sessions are tailored to each individual and involves collaboration between the therapist and the young person. However, some features that are common amongst all sessions are, coming up with a plan for what to do that session, looking at current progress, doing activities to help work towards your goals and thinking about how to carry on your progress between sessions.
How are parents involved?
The level of parental involvement varies due to different young people needing different levels of parental support. Parents are heavily involved in the assessment process and regular check-ins (roughly every 6 weeks) are provided throughout the intervention. These are to find out parent’s opinions and observations as well as inform parents of how to help. The sessions are confidential so no session content will be shared with parents unless we are concerned about the safety of the young person. Parents will be able to contact at any time via the communication channels provided if they feel there is necessary information to pass on to the therapist.
Why see young people up to age 25?
Adolescence, as defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) ends between the ages of 18-24 as research suggests that brain development and the process of becoming an ‘adult’ extends beyond the usual range of ‘teen’ years. It is also worth noting that young people up to this age face a lot of similar challenges to those of teenagers and still require a similar level of support. Additionally, neurodivergent young people of up to this age may be at a developmental stage which reflects that of earlier years and should be supported as such.
Does CBT work for neurodivergent young people?
Yes! We pride ourselves on providing neurodivergent affirming therapy. Neurodivergent affirming therapy Neurodivergent affirming therapy is an approach which respects neurodivergent differences as a part of their identity rather than a condition to be cured and works to differentiate between symptoms of neurodivergence vs. symptoms of mental health difficulties.
CBT is a highly adaptable evidence-based approach to treating mental health difficulties which can be just as effective for neurodivergent young people as neurotypical young people. Effective CBT takes a ‘flexibility within fidelity’ approach meaning that there is an ability to adapt all traditional aspects of CBT delivery whilst ensuring the mental health issues are still treated in line with the evidence-base.
It is important that neurodivergent affirming therapy is completely young-person centred and delivered by therapists who have knowledge and experience in working with neurodivergent young people such as within our service.
How can I get started?
To get started, please fill out the contact form or arrange a free initial consultation HERE or via the button below to determine if we are the right service for you/your child. Following this, we will be able to decide next steps.
What should I do in a mental health crisis?
If there is an immediate risk to life or you don’t believe you can keep yourself or someone else safe, please call 999 or attend your local A&E. For non life-threatening mental health crisis support:
- Contact your GP for an emergency appointment or the out-of-hours teams
- Call NHS 111 and select the mental health option (UK)
- Contact the Samaritans (24/7) via samaritans.org, call 116 123 (freephone) or email jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours
- Text “SHOUT” to 85258 to contact a free confidential 24/7 mental health crisis text line
- If you are under 19, you can also call 08001111 to talk to Childline confidentially
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