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Young People's Counselling

 

We know that being a teenager can be tough. Whether it's dealing with school pressure, relationships, identity or mental health struggles, sometimes it feels like you’re carrying a lot on your own.

 

Who Is It For?

 

Our counselling service is open to young people aged 13-18 who live in Hitchin and surrounding areas (check our postcode list). It’s available to anyone, no matter their race, religion, nationality, sexuality, gender identity or socio-economic background. Whether you need someone to talk to about personal struggles, relationships or school stress, we’re here to listen and help.

 

If you feel you / your young person is not quite ready for counselling (or if they are too young for our service), you might consider accessing the CHUMS Mindjurny app first which provides early emotional wellbeing support and guided self-help tools. Find out more here and save 5% with code: Tilehouse5

 

Why Counselling?

 

People seek counselling for many different reasons. You may be feeling anxious, sad, confused or even lost. Sometimes it’s hard to pinpoint why and other times, it’s clear. Counselling helps you take the time to reflect on your thoughts and feelings, identify patterns and understand the root causes of these emotions.

 

A skilled counsellor is there to listen without judgment, helping you explore your feelings and make informed choices. By working together, you can uncover new perspectives and develop healthier ways of managing life’s difficulties, empowering you to move forward with a greater sense of control and self-understanding.

 

Tilehouse Counselling offers a safe, confidential space where young people (aged 13-18) can talk about what’s on their mind, without fear of judgment. Our aim is to help you feel understood, supported and empowered to work through challenges in a healthy way.

 

    What our Clients Say

  • "My mental health would have gotten to the point where I would have dropped out of school.”

  • "My confidence has improved – I don’t feel scared to speak in class anymore. I have more friends now."

 

When Does Counselling Help?

 

Young people come to counselling for all kinds of reasons. If any of the following sound familiar, talking to a counsellor could help:

 

  • Anxiety and depression

  • Self-esteem and confidence

  • Relationships (with friends, family or romantic partners)

  • Gender identity and sexuality

  • Drug, alcohol and food-related issues

  • Abuse and neglect

  • Self-harming or suicidal thoughts

  • Traumatic experiences (e.g., abuse, violence, major changes or loss)

  • Health (including sexual health)

  • Bereavement and loss

  • Bullying, racism and sexism

  • School stress and academic pressure

It’s okay to need help and talking to someone who understands can be the first step in feeling better. You don’t have to deal with everything alone.

 

Our Commitment

 

We know that finding the right counselling service – and the right counsellor – is essential. That’s why we’re committed to providing:

 

  • Confidentiality and respect: Every client is treated with dignity
    and respect and their privacy is respected at all times.

  • Consistent sessions: We offer weekly individual counselling sessions at the same time and on the same day, ensuring consistency and stability.

  • Time to heal: Counselling can last anywhere from four weeks to 9 months, depending on your needs.

  • A tailored approach: We use an integrative approach to counselling, drawing from psychodynamic, person-centred and trauma-informed practice and we can also incorporate Art & Play to help make talking about difficult subjects easier

Confidentiality

 

Your counsellor will listen to you with respect and understanding. What you talk about in your counselling sessions is completely confidential unless you give consent for us to share something particular (for instance with parents) or if your counsellor believes you or someone else is at serious risk of harm. This would usually be discussed with you first. You can read more on our confidentiality policy and our safeguarding policy under 'Policies'

 

To make sure you get the best possible support, all of our

counsellors have regular supervision, where they discuss

their work (without revealing your identity) to keep

improving the level of service they offer.

 

The Counsellors

 

All our counsellors are required to work within the BACP Ethical Framework to ensure they deliver ethical, high-quality care.

 

They are trained in one or more of:

 

  • Psychodynamic Therapy

  • Person-Centred Therapy

  • Integrative Therapy

  • Art Therapy

A skilled counsellor is there to listen without judgment, helping you explore your feelings and make informed choices.

 

 

Information for Parents

 

How Much Does It Cost?

 

The two routes we offer for young people are:

 

  • Charitable Counselling: Available to young people aged 13+ who live in Hitchin and surrounding areas (please check our postcode list). We have limited fully funded spaces, reserved for families on the lowest incomes, and partially funded places for which parents are asked to make a weekly contribution according to income - you'll find the scale here. Initially, these places are for up to 16 weeks, with the potential to extend beyond that in up to 16 week blocks.

  • Private Counselling: Available to anyone living in the UK, regardless of income, at a cost of £70 (daytime) or £80 (evening) per session (week). There is no limit to the number of sessions an individual can access, and private clients are given preference for after school / evening appointments.

 

We understand that as a parent, it can be difficult to know how to best support your teenager through tough times. We encourage open discussions about counselling at home, and we’re here to work together with you and your child to make sure they feel comfortable and supported in the process.

 

Whenever your child is ready to talk, we’re here to listen. 

 

 

Getting Started

 

Beginning your counselling journey can feel like a big step – and we’re here to help you every step of the way. Here’s what to expect.

 

Step 1

Telephone Consultation

 

An initial 30-minute, phone consultation where we’ll talk about what’s bringing your young person to counselling, explore what kind of support you feel they need and explain how we can help. This call is a chance for you to get to know us and for us to get to know you & your young person, with no pressure or obligation.

 
For those aged 13-16 we'll ask for a parent to be on this call with or without the young person present - but they should be aware.

 
Those 16 or over can self refer (i.e. without a parent knowing, although we'd always recommend discussing this with your parent) OR will need to give their consent before a parent can proceed with an initial call on their behalf. Over 16s can conduct their initial call on their own, with a parent, or ask a parent to do it on their behalf.

 

There is a cost of £20 for this appointment

Step 2

Join Our Waiting List

 

After your consultation, if we believe that Tilehouse Counselling is the right fit for you, we’ll add you to our short waiting list. We will contact you as soon as a counsellor who’s well-matched to your needs is available.

Step 3

Your First Counselling Session


An introduction where we’ll discuss your goals for counselling, how the process works and answer any questions you may have. Details such as confidentiality and cancellations will also be agreed.

 

 

Need Help Immediately?

 

If you feel that you need immediate crisis support, please visit this page for details on organisations who can provide urgent assistance.

 

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