What is my approach when it comes to teenagers and young people?
Young people come to me with all sorts of difficulties and the first thing we need to do is to understand what is troubling you. After the first few meetings, we will think with you about how best I could help.
I see a whole range of people here:
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people who are having problems with their relationships, with friends and family,
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with school or working life,
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with depression, anxiety, with self-harm or suicidal thoughts,
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with problems related to self-esteem, eating difficulties,
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and with experiences of abuse and trauma, including violence, family break-up, bereavement.
Sometimes young people come to me with a established diagnosis (e.g. depression, anorexia, personality disorder). Often the problem is more complex and difficult to clarify. This does not limit my work and I do see people with and not limited to issues such as:
- dislike of appearance
- drug and alcohol issues
- difficulties leaving home
- difficulties coping with school, work, college or university problems, or unemployment
- problems following difficult early life experiences, including abuse, neglect or trauma