Ruth Burnett

After years working in Africa and Asia, I moved to Edinburgh, and went back to university and began to focus on working with children and young people.  In my previous career, I often worked in areas of conflict, or crisis. I was deeply affected by the trauma suffered by young people in these places, but also I was interested in how different cultures address young people's mental wellbeing.  Back at university, this time as an adult, I realised I wanted to work directly with children and teenagers.  Trauma, bereavement, divorce, anxiety and other childhood challenges aren't only in war zones, they are everywhere.

The solutions vary, but studies show that talking, art and play therapies are hugely beneficial for young people.  For some, it helps to have someone independent with whom to talk through their difficulties. Talking, play and art therapy help children understand distressing events or complicated emotions: that can enable them to talk more effectively and easily to those who love them.

Over the past five years, I have completed almost 800 hours of 1-1 child/adolescent counselling, using talking, art and play therapies, depending on what best suits the client.  I've worked with young people with diagnosed conditions such as ASD, ADHD, anxiety, attachment disorders, behavioural disorders, autism.  And I've worked with young people who don't have a diagnosed condition, but who were suffering from anxiety, depression, behavioural problems, trouble at school, fall outs with family, being excluded from school.

I truly love this work, and have been able to see the positive impact a therapeutic intervention can have on a young person time and time again.