Adele Clayton

After qualifying as a counsellor in 2004, I founded Thriving Young Minds in 2018 with the determination to provide a high quality, effective and ethical service for young people. We specialise in working with children, teenagers and young adults aged 4-25. This is in recognition of the importance of early intervention and developing the skills needed to allow young people to strengthen their roots and flourish in their own unique way.

We have a team of experienced therapists offering Counselling and Play Therapy. Areas of expertise include Autism, anxiety, depression, trauma, bereavement, loss, self-esteem, dealing with change, stress, confidence, relationship issues, family issues, self-harm, abuse and self-acceptance.

We believe that each young person has the ability to manage the issues they face and work with them to develop the resilience they need. The work we do is intended to help clients deal with issues long-term, not just a short-term fix.

With 19 years of experience, I ensure myself and the therapists working at Thriving Young Minds maintain ongoing professional development and use a variety of counselling models so that we can develop individual ways of working with each young person.

As client-centred therapists the belief is that each young person has the ability to manage the issues they face. By encouraging clients to take ownership of their situation they can find ways to achieve their aims. We have a strengths-focused approach which draws on existing skills and qualities. Being trained and experienced in various therapeutic approaches allows the support provided to be best suited to each young person.

Young people often find it tricky to be open and talk about their feelings. By using play and creative techniques, we can enter into the young person’s world and see life through their eyes. Equally, we provide older clients with support that meets their needs, often addressing the root of the issue rather than just the resulting impact. Some ways of working don’t suit everyone so it is a priority to get to know what would be most effective for each client so you can rest assured you are getting bespoke counselling for your circumstances.

Being BACP Accredited means that counsellors have achieved a high level of training and experience and are committed to ongoing development. It also involves a commitment to working in an ethical way, ensuring the needs of the client are protected. By regularly attending professional development courses, attending local meetings and monitoring local and national developments, our knowledge and skills are maintained at all times.

With Thriving Young Minds you can have peace of mind that you will get a high quality counselling using a vast amount of knowledge and experience.

The first session will be an assessment session. This is a two-way process. It is an opportunity for us to get to know the client and their situation. We will also explain more about how we work and the resources we may use as part of the sessions. For the client, they can decide whether they would feel comfortable working with us in this way. Being able to develop a trusting relationship is key to therapy working well. For younger clients, or where clients may feel anxious initially, a parent or carer is welcome to come into the session for the first 10/15 minutes to help them feel more secure and, where appropriate, to help them explain what they are experiencing.

Following this, we will discuss ongoing support.

My belief is that the supervisory relationship is paramount in helping counsellors to become more aware, confident and knowledgeable in their work with clients.

I aim to provide a safe, supportive space for you to develop your clinical practice through insight and reflection. Working with the individual aims and experience of each supervisee enables me to provide a tailored approach.

My own counselling base is integrative, incorporating person-centred, transactional analysis, CBT, solution-focused and psycho-educational modalities. My experience includes working with children, young people and adults across many sectors, developing and managing counselling services and private practice.

I have a comprehensive understanding of the BACP code of Ethics and Good Practice, which is at the core of my supervision work, and primarily use the Seven Eyed Model for Supervision (Hawkins & Shohet).

Supervision sessions are also available to school, college and safeguarding staff to provide professional and personal support for your work.