Maria Ferguson

I offer in person and online appointments. Currently I am available on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 11am to 6pm.

My professional experience spans over 20 years working with children and young people. I am a qualified teacher, a former advocate for care experienced young people in a local health care trust and have been employed as a school counsellor with the Independent School Counselling Service (ICSS). I hold a MSc in Adolescent Psychotherapy from the Dublin Counselling & Therapy Centre (in partnership with the University of Northampton) and run a private practice specialising in therapy for children, teenagers and young adults. 

I specialise in working with children and young people in particular young people who have recently received a diagnosis in neurodivergence - like ADHD or autism. I offer therapeutic interventions with the young person and parental strategy work. In addition, I welcome ongoing parental involvement during the therapy process post diagnosis. I support young people to have greater self-understanding, empower them to move towards finding language for their life experiences and to discover practical ways to make life work better for them.

In the first session, I offer a Contact Assessment with the young person and their parent(s) or parenting adult(s). I use this time to gather information about important experiences in the young person's childhood and adolescence and what is emerging in relation to their developmental milestones. This is also an opportunity for the young person and their parent or caregiver to find out about the therapy work.

The Assessment is an important part of the therapeutic process and lays the foundation for meaningful work to begin. It is invitational and collaborative; always focusing on the best outcomes for the young person.