Sebastiana Black

Monday to Friday up to September 2020. Then to be confirmed.

I am a Child and Adolescent Counsellor and a Theraplay© practitioner, working with young people aged 4-19 years old. I have worked with children, teenagers and their parents/carers since 2008 privately, as well as in schools, therapeutic centres and residential homes.

I offer the young clients a therapeutic space to find their voice and make sense verbally or creatively of their feelings, thoughts, life story and relationships. I use attachment based and relational approaches and my work is informed by expressive arts, research in trauma, neuroscience, therapeutic life story work and Mindful Self-Compassion.

I focus on creating a trusting relationship with the young person, exploring the best way to engage them and help them with their difficulties. I aim to establish a sense of safety for the young person by being curious, accepting and warm. Sometimes young people find it hard to talk about their experiences and that is when creative arts or play can be helpful to facilitate the young person's ability to connect with their inner world and express themselves either verbally or non-verbally. I support young people to increase their emotional vocabulary, connect with their senses and body, understand their nervous system and learn ways to cope with stress and strong emotions, using psycho-education, mindfulness and self-compassion.

I can also facilitate joint sessions with parent and the young person to strengthen their relationship and address the young person's social, relational and emotional difficulties.

I often find it useful to support the parents or carers in making sense of the young person's behaviour and together we find ways to best meet the young person's needs. I can offer therapeutic parenting sessions.

Before my studies in counselling I trained as a Voice Movement Therapy practitioner and a teacher and have worked with young people and adults since 1995 in various settings.

To get started, just send me an email or give me a call to arrange an initial session. If you have questions first, I offer a 15-minute phone consultation at no charge.

With younger children, whenever possible, the initial meeting is just with the parents and it is an opportunity to explore the child's background, current circumstances and challenges.

With teenagers, in the first meeting we'll discuss what brings them to therapy, address any questions or concerns they might have, and see whether it feels right to work together.

If we all decide to continue, we can then arrange a regular time and day that works for you.