Amy Ford

I currently have availability during the day on Tuesdays, Wednesday and Fridays.

Please contact me for my up-to-date availability. 

I specialise in counselling children and young people aged 5–18. I hold an MSc in Child and Adolescent Counselling and am a registered member of the BACP, with specialist postgraduate training in working therapeutically with children and young people.

Before becoming a counsellor, I spent 15 years working in primary education. This experience, alongside my therapeutic training, has given me a strong understanding of child development and of the different worlds children navigate: home, school, friendships and family life. Alongside my private practice, I continue to work therapeutically with children and young people through a children's mental health charity.

I work integratively, which means I don't expect a child to fit a particular model of therapy. Instead, I work flexibly and responsively, considering each young person's age and developmental stage, personality, experiences and individual needs.

At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship. I believe that feeling genuinely known, accepted and understood can be an important part of helping a young person make sense of themselves and what they are experiencing. I aim to build a warm and trusting relationship where they can be themselves and explore things at their own pace.

For some young people, talking feels natural. Others communicate and explore their experiences more easily through creativity and play. Sessions may involve drawing, painting, clay, sand, games or other creative materials, or we may simply sit and talk. There is no expectation that a young person comes to therapy knowing what to say or do.

I am interested in the whole child, not simply the difficulty that has brought them to counselling. Together, we can begin to understand their experiences and feelings, recognise their strengths and find ways forward that feel meaningful to them.

I offer face-to-face, 50-minute counselling sessions for children and young people aged 5–18. My aim is to provide a warm, welcoming space where young people can feel comfortable being themselves.

My therapy room is designed with children and young people in mind, with comfortable places to sit alongside a range of creative materials. There is no expectation to sit opposite me and talk for the whole session. We might talk while drawing or painting, work with clay or sand, play a game, or use creativity to explore something that is difficult to put into words. Equally, particularly with older young people, sessions may simply involve talking.

I place the young person at the centre of the therapeutic process, while recognising that they are also part of a wider world of family, school, friendships and relationships. Where it is helpful, I work collaboratively with parents and carers, whilst respecting the importance of the young person's privacy and the confidential therapeutic relationship.

I work with young people experiencing a range of difficulties including anxiety, low mood, low self-esteem, bereavement and loss, friendship or relationship difficulties, family changes, school-related difficulties and times when life feels confusing or overwhelming.

My private practice is face-to-face and runs during school term time.

Taking the first step towards counselling for your child can feel daunting, and it is natural to have questions about what to expect.

I offer a free 15-minute telephone conversation with parents or carers before arranging any appointments. This gives you an opportunity to tell me a little about what has brought you to counselling, ask questions and consider whether I might be the right therapist for your child.

If you decide you'd like to continue, the next step is a 50-minute parent/carer assessment (£80). This gives us time to explore your concerns in more detail and to think about your child's experiences, development, strengths and needs, as well as what you hope they might gain from counselling.

When I first meet your child, my priority is to help them feel comfortable with me and in the therapy space. I won't expect them to immediately talk about what is worrying them or explain why they are there. We can spend some time getting to know one another and they can explore the room and creative materials, talk, play, or simply take their time to settle in.

I will explain how counselling works, including confidentiality, in a way that is appropriate for their age and understanding, and they will have plenty of opportunity to ask questions.

There is no expectation for a child or young person to arrive knowing what to say or do. We begin where they are and allow the relationship and the therapy to develop at their pace.