1:1 Therapy

A space to be heard properly,
and to think without pressure.

Independent education brings opportunity and expectation in equal measure. Therapy offers a confidential setting beyond those demands, where young people can reflect, understand themselves more clearly, and feel properly heard.

Children from age 5 Adolescents Young adults to 25 University students
How It Works

Relational. Considered. Shaped around the individual

We work relationally and at the pace of the individual. There is no fixed script and no imposed agenda. Each therapeutic relationship develops according to age, readiness and need.

Children are not hurried towards solutions or encouraged to override emotion. They are helped to understand what they are feeling, why it makes sense, and how to respond to it differently.

Over time this deepens regulation, strengthens perspective and builds self-trust. As internal stability develops, young people often find themselves more able to engage with school, friendships and opportunity without feeling constantly braced.

We do not begin from diagnosis. Where specialist assessment is appropriate, we guide families thoughtfully within our multidisciplinary network. Where it is not, we begin from careful understanding.

Sessions are available in school · at the KST Centre in Kensington Square · and online where clinically appropriate

Before Therapy Begins

Therapy is collaborative. It cannot be effective without the young person’s own engagement. We speak openly with children and adolescents about what therapy is, what it is not, and whether they feel ready. Their voice matters from the very first session.

Under 16

Written parental consent is required

An initial conversation with parents allows us to understand what is prompting support, the wider family context, and whether 1:1 therapy is the right step at this time. It is also an opportunity to ask questions before sessions begin.

16 and 17

Capacity to consent is assessed in line with professional guidance

For 16 and 17 year olds, the young person’s capacity to consent is considered carefully and in line with professional guidance. Confidentiality is respected accordingly. Parental involvement is welcomed where appropriate and where the young person consents.

Where Sessions Take Place

Three settings. The same clinical standard

Within School

Embedded within the school day

When therapy takes place in school, sessions are held in a private counselling room during the school day. Our therapists bring extensive experience within the independent school sector and understand its culture, its expectations and its safeguarding frameworks.

We liaise carefully with pastoral and safeguarding teams where appropriate, maintaining professional boundaries and protecting the young person’s trust throughout.

Weekly during term time · 30 to 50 minutes depending on age

Kensington Square Centre

A calm, professional setting beyond the school environment

Our centre at 23 Kensington Square, London W8 offers a professional therapeutic setting entirely separate from the academic context. For some young people, this physical distance is significant in itself. When the school environment falls away, thinking often widens.

The centre also provides continuity through school holidays and suits families who prefer therapeutic work that sits independently of the school structure.

Weekly · 50 minutes · Year-round availability

Online

Flexible and secure

Online sessions are available for adolescents, university students and young adults where clinically appropriate. They offer flexibility during examination periods, university terms or periods of travel.

Sessions are structured, secure and held to the same professional standard as in-person work. The format may change. The therapeutic relationship does not.

Adolescents · University students · Young adults to 25

What Happens in Sessions

Unhurried. Led by the young person

Early sessions focus on helping the young person feel settled and understood. There is no pressure to disclose quickly. The pace is shaped by the individual.

Therapy is never reduced to a list of concerns. It attends to the whole person: their relationships, their inner life, and the particular pressures of their world.

We do not impose agendas or predetermined outcomes.

We support them in developing the internal resources to navigate their world with greater clarity and steadiness.

Therapy may address

  • Anxiety and emotional regulation, including perfectionism and social anxiety
  • Academic and performance pressure where outward capability masks internal strain
  • Friendship dynamics and social belonging within selective school environments
  • Identity development and questions of self and difference
  • Family relationships and change
  • Transitions between schools, into sixth form, university or early adult life
Getting Started

A considered first step

We begin with an initial conversation to understand what is prompting support and whether 1:1 therapy is the right fit at this time.

There is no obligation and no pressure. All enquiries are handled personally and with care. We aim to respond within one working day.

Make an Enquiry

Therapy may begin through

  • A parent or carer enquiry
  • A referral from a school pastoral lead, SENCO or head of year
  • A young person aged 18 or over seeking support directly
  • A GP, paediatrician or educational psychologist
Begin the Conversation

Ready to consider whether therapy may be helpful?

A brief initial conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. We are happy to help you think it through.

Get in Touch