Child & Adolescent Therapy

The Parent Support Service provides individual Psychological Therapy and support to children and adolescents who are experiencing emotional difficulties. Consultations take place at the Spire Bristol Hospital. In some cases, appointments can also can be arranged in the family home.

For which Children is PSS Suitable?

Therapeutic support is available for children experiencing a broad spectrum of emotional concerns including:

• Anxiety and panic attacks
• Depression
• Low self-esteem
• Phobias
• Obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours
• Post Traumatic Stress
• Adjustment difficulties following divorce

Whom Will My Child See?

All therapeutic support is provided by Dr Victoria Samuel, Chartered Clinical Psychologist. Victoria has had extensive experience of working with young people using evidence based techniques to help them overcome a range of emotional challenges. She has worked in a variety of NHS child services within the Bristol area and continues to work in a specialist NHS child team.

How Does it Work?

When you contact the service, by telephone or via the website enquiry form, you will have the opportunity to briefly discuss your child’s needs. It if is agreed that PSS can meet these needs, you will then be able to book an Initial Assessment appointment at a time convenient for you and your child. Psychologist appointments are normally available within two weeks of approaching the service.

In the Initial Assessment Victoria will meet with you and your child to gain an understanding of: i) the difficulties you have been facing; ii) your goals & hopes for the future; iii) your unique family skills and strengths.

After the Initial Assessment, you can then arrange individual therapeutic consultations at either weekly or bi-weekly intervals.

Sessions revolve around four therapeutic aims:

1. Providing your child with relief from worries by enabling them to unburden their concerns in a safe, supported atmosphere
2. Helping your child to make sense of difficulties by gently unravelling and exploring contributing and maintaining factors and by drawing on psychological theory to clearly explain common vicious cycles
3. Freeing your child of the difficulties that have been holding them back by equipping them with a ‘toolkit’ of practical coping strategies
4. Developing and increasing your child’s confidence and self-esteem by normalising and validating their experiences and by creating a sense of achievement and mastery through successfully overcoming challenges

Skills will be developed using a practical, solution-focused approach supported by a range of visual material, handouts and practical exercises. Generally, consultations involve 45 minutes with your child, followed by 15 minutes parent feedback and discussion time.

What Approach Will be Used?

Victoria places considerable importance on creating a supportive, non-blaming, empowering approach when working with young people. The therapeutic orientations underpinning her work reflect this aim.

A solution Focused approach is adopted in which the focus is on the future and on solutions, rather than on problems and the past. The orientation of Narrative Therapy is also integrated due to the non-blaming, “externalising” approach which locates the difficulties as outside of the young person, rather than part of them.

Strategies from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy are also used to empower the young person by to resolve difficulties themselves by learning practical, effective coping skills.

Victoria has completed advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitation and Reprocessing (EMDR), a powerful psychological method for treating psychological trauma. For more information about EMDR, please see the EMDR Association website.

Will I Be Involved?

Research indicates that parental involvement improves outcomes for children engaged in therapeutic support and as such, you will be viewed as an important co-therapist, assisting your child along the therapeutic journey. The following session structure is commonly used: 5 minute review with parent, child, psychologist; 45 minutes child, psychologist; 10 minutes ending & feedback with parent, child & psychologist. Alternatively, or additionally, it can useful to meet with parents for individual consultations alongside psychological therapy sessions with children. Either way, you will be involved as much as possible in the therapeutic process.

When Do You Offer Appointments?

A flexible range of appointment times will be offered to suit your individual needs. This can include evening appointments and a limited number of Saturday appointments.

How Much Does it Cost?

Psychological Therapy costs £100 per hour. This includes all between-session preparation and individually tailored handouts and resources.

How Many Sessions Will My Child Need?

The number of sessions needed varies according to each child’s individual needs so it is difficult to indicate the number of sessions required. Often as little as 3 sessions is adequate, whilst for more complex problems, 10 or more may be needed. After the initial assessment, you will be given a clearer estimate of the number of sessions that will most likely be needed according to your child’s individual circumstances.