CBT for Children and Teenagers in West Sussex

How Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Works 

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a current form of evidence-based psychological therapy recommended by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) as a first line intervention for many psychological disorders. CBT is a well structured therapy course, providing clients with clear goals to be achieved over an agreed time frame. Combining Cognitive Therapy, which works on identifying cognitive distortions, changing and re-framing thoughts and memories to provoke a healthier, more helpful and productive way of thinking, with Behavioural Therapy, which looks to change maladaptive, destructive or unhelpful behavioural patterns to enable a more positive response to situations. Focussing on overcoming present day behavioural issues, difficult emotions and psychological problems. Child and Teen Therapy West Sussex offers a structured course of CBT sessions for anxiety, OCD, panic, school refusal, fears and phobias, sleep problems, anger, low mood and exam stress.

What to expect from CBT at Child and Teen Therapy West Sussex?
As your CBT Therapist, I will work collaboratively with you, supporting and guiding you throughout. The first session will be an evaluation session, of where problems will be discussed in detail and how they may be affecting your every day life. The first therapy session will commence your structured course of treatment and may include the CBT techniques explained further below.

How to get the best results out of CBT
Try to fully engage in the CBT process, stick to your treatment and homework plan and be open and honest throughout your therapy sessions. You can feel confident that your therapist at Child and Teen Therapy West Sussex is professional, non-judgmental and discreet.

What can CBT help with?
Anxiety, OCD, Panic, Phobias, School Refusal, Stress, Anger, Low Mood and Self Esteem, Sleeping issues and Exam Stress.

Who can have CBT?
CBT is suitable for children and teenagers aged 8 to 18. Learning new skills and coping techniques is an important part of CBT and involves exploration and confrontation of sometimes what may be difficult and sensitive issues, so may not be suitable for people with more complex mental health issues or learning difficulties.

Some of the CBT Techniques used at Child and Teen Therapy West Sussex

Guided Therapy
Therapist led guidance, using Socratic questioning to gather evidence, explore and challenge assumptions and unhealthy core beliefs. Leading to a deeper understanding and insight of oneself and how to problem solve.

Cross-sectional CBT Model
To identify triggers, and unwanted thoughts, feelings, emotions, behaviours and any physiological symptoms and learning how they influence one another.

Cognitive Reconstruction
Identifying, challenging and re-framing dysfunctional thought patterns and schemas, Negative Automatic Thoughts, Rigid Rules, Conditional Assumptions, Negative Core Beliefs, Compensatory strategies and Cognitive Distortions. Re-framing and replacing with more helpful strategies and healthier ways of thinking.

Journaling and Thought Records
Self monitoring symptoms and establishing thought patterns, behavioural patterns and triggers. Establishing negative thoughts and distressing reactions, finding support to and opposing the thought and finding a balanced alternative thought.

Balancing Thoughts
Learning how to evaluate the validity of thoughts through supporting and opposing evidence and replacing unhelpful thoughts with a plausible, realistic or helpful alternatives.

Thought Stopping
Learning how to stop thoughts/thoughts patterns that have been identified, offering temporary relief or a regain of control.

Cognitive Diffusion and Acceptance Techniques
A variety of techniques to increase awareness of thoughts, create distance and perspective of thoughts, encourage detachment from thoughts, changing how thoughts are internally represented by changing volume, pitch and speed, bringing thoughts back to present, changing impact of thought by repetition.

Function Analysis (ABC Approach)
Identifying and studying what comes before, during and after behaviours allowing for a deeper understanding of internal and external triggers and reinforcements.

Activity Scheduling and Behavioural Analysis
Identifying unhelpful behaviours and avoidances and scheduling activities that fall in line with your purpose, goals, values and strengths. To provide a balance of physical well-being, achievement, connection and enjoyment and increase positive emotion and motivation (PACE).

Graded Exposure and Systematic Desensitisation
Exposure to phobias or anxiety provoking situations in a safe, controlled and structured environment developing rational understanding and desensitisation.

Gratitude Journaling
Encouraging recognition of positive personal outcomes. Promoting optimism, enhancing mindfulness and creating a positive impact on mental, emotional and physical well being.

Controlled Breathing, Systematic Muscle Relaxation and Anchoring Techniques
Learning affective stress busting breathing and muscle relaxation exercises to reduce anxiety, stress and fight or flight symptoms and to help in returning to or maintaining an emotional equilibrium. Developing a mental Anchor through all five senses to help rebalance emotions.

Goal Setting and Successive Approximation
Learning goal setting, problem solving skills and how to effectively breakdown tasks in to more manageable and less overwhelming steps.

Personal Resilience plans
Identifying action needed to protect against future setbacks and creating a resilience plan to take home to increase awareness of triggers or any high risk situations. Signs to look out for that may indicate a setbacks, with strategies to use in case of a relapse.

What is CBT? (A simple explanation for parents and children)
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a practical, talking-and-doing therapy. It is based on a simp

 le idea: what we think affects how we feel, and how we feel affects what we do. When a child is stuck in a loop, the thought "something bad will happen" leads to a tummy ache, and then to avoiding school. CBT helps them notice the loop, question the worried thought and try a braver next step. It is one of the most widely recommended therapies for anxiety in young people, and it is the core of how I work.

How CBT can help your child
I work with children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 who are struggling with:
anxiety and constant worry
OCD
panic attacks
fears and phobias
school refusal
difficulty sleeping because of worries
anger and big feelings
low mood and low self-esteem
exam stress
Alongside CBT, I sometimes draw on NLP, coaching, hypnotherapy or EFT, when they suit your child.

What CBT sessions look like
Sessions are calm, friendly and practical. Together we set goals your child actually cares about. We use drawings, simple diagrams and real-life examples to make sense of their thoughts and feelings, and we practise small, achievable steps between sessions. For younger children I keep parents closely involved, so you know how to support the work at home. Teenagers get more space and privacy, within clear safeguarding limits. The number of sessions varies from child to child. Therapy works best when it has a clear beginning and end, and when the goals belong to your child. At the start, we agree goals together that matter to them, while you stay closely involved. Once your child can use the tools on their own, we plan an ending, and my door stays open for top-up sessions if they need them.

Ages, location and fees
I see children and teenagers aged 8 to 18 at my practice in Graffham, near Petworth (GU28). Families come from Petworth, Midhurst, Pulborough, Chichester, Haslemere and as far as Horsham. After a few face-to-face sessions, older clients can take part in sessions online, once I feel they can engage well online. Sessions are £100 per hour.

CBT in schools
I also work with children in leading private schools, and I'm happy to talk with schools about supporting a pupil.

Frequently asked questions from parents

What age does my child need to be for CBT?
I work with children and teenagers aged 8 to 18. For younger children, sessions use more play, drawing and parent involvement. For teenagers, sessions are more conversational.

How many CBT sessions will my child need?
Every child is different, and the number of sessions varies. We agree goals at the start and review progress regularly, so you are never committed to an open-ended number of sessions. I always aim to move children on from therapy so they can practise the tools independently, and I offer top-up sessions if problems come back - my door is always left open.

Will I be involved in my child's sessions?
Yes, in a way that suits your child's age. Parents of younger children are closely involved and get ideas to use at home. With teenagers, I respect their privacy, keep you informed in general terms, and will always tell you if there is a safety concern.
Where do sessions take place, and do you offer online sessions?

Sessions take place at my practice in Graffham, near Petworth, West Sussex (GU28 0QW), easily reached from Petworth, Midhurst, Pulborough, Chichester, Haslemere and as far as Horsham. After a few face-to-face sessions, older clients can take part in sessions online, once I feel they can engage well online.

How much does CBT cost?
Sessions are £100 per hour. The first step is a free 20-minute phone consultation, so you can ask questions before booking.

Can you work with my child's school?
I already work in leading private schools. With your permission, I'm happy to liaise with your child's school so everyone supports the same strategies.

Book a free 20-minute phone consultation

Every family starts with a free 20-minute phone consultation. You can tell me what's happening, ask questions, and decide whether CBT feels right for your child, with no obligation. I'm an ACCPH registered therapist and a mother of four, so I understand how worrying it is when your child is struggling.

Let’s Work Together

Get in touch so we can start working together.