Children and young people

When working with children and young people, our counsellors will establish whether the child or young person is willing to inform their parents or carers, who have parental responsibility, about the counselling sessions. If so, we will ask them to sign a form agreeing for their child engaging in counselling.

If a child or young person chooses not to inform their parents/carers, the counsellor will decide whether they consider them to be ‘Gillick competent,’ i.e. sufficiently mature and able to understand the nature of the counselling process, before deciding whether counselling can take place. In this case a young person may sign an agreement for support themselves. We encourage open discussion with parents or family members where appropriate.