COUNSELLING FOR CHILDREN & YOUNG PEOPLE
A safe, gentle space for children and young people to explore their feelings, find their voice and begin to feel more like themselves.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
— Maya Angelou
WELCOME TO STORY
Sometimes feelings are messy, confusing or hard to explain. At Story Counselling, we begin wherever you are.
Through talking, play and creative ways of working, we offer time and emotional space where children and young people can feel safe, heard and valued. Together, we make room for their experiences and support them to discover their own hidden strengths.
Stories. Time. Space.
A space for children and young people to bring their experiences, time to explore them, and permission for their stories to unfold at their own pace.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Counselling is not one-size-fits-all. Our work is led by the individual needs, pace and personality of each child or young person.
Ages 5–10
A gentle, creative space where play, art and stories can help children express what words cannot always reach.
Sessions can include play, drawing, stories and other creative ways of communicating. We work at the child’s pace and involve parents or carers thoughtfully, while protecting the child’s therapeutic space.
Ages 11–24
A confidential place to make sense of difficult feelings, relationships, identity and the pressures of growing up.
Young people can choose to talk or explore their experiences through creative approaches, metaphor, movement or silence. Sessions can take place in person or online, depending on individual needs and preferences.
Support around the child
Thoughtful support to help you understand your child’s emotional world and feel more connected and confident.
Parents and carers are welcome to begin with an initial conversation. We can explore what support may be helpful, how you can support the therapeutic process and how confidentiality will work for your child or young person.
FOR PROFESSIONALS
Professionals can play an important part in helping children and young people access the right support at the right time.
Story welcomes initial conversations from schools, education settings, charities and other professionals seeking therapeutic support for a child or young person.
Every enquiry begins with understanding the young person’s needs, circumstances and existing network of support. Where appropriate and agreed, we work thoughtfully alongside parents, carers and professionals while protecting the young person’s privacy and therapeutic space.
SAFEGUARDING
Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.
We work in accordance with current safeguarding legislation and statutory guidance, including the Children Acts 1989 and 2004 and Working Together to Safeguard Children 2026.
All counsellors working with children and young people hold an appropriate enhanced DBS check and are committed to responding promptly and appropriately to any safeguarding concerns.
What is shared in counselling is treated with care and respect. If we become concerned that a child or young person, or someone else, may be at risk of serious harm, we may need to share relevant information with the appropriate safeguarding services. Wherever possible, we will explain this first.
For a safeguarding enquiry, email hello@storycounselling.co.uk. This email is not an emergency service. If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
PRIVACY
Story Counselling Services is responsible for the personal information described in this notice and acts as the data controller. Story Counselling Services trades publicly as Story Counselling.
Privacy notice · Last updated August 2026
We may receive names, ages, contact details, referral information, appointment and payment information, correspondence, and relevant emotional, health, family or safeguarding information. Referrals may come directly from families or from schools, education settings and other professionals.
Information is used to respond to enquiries, consider whether the service is suitable, arrange and provide counselling, communicate with those appropriately involved, maintain professional records, manage payments, safeguard children and young people, and meet legal, insurance and professional responsibilities.
We use an appropriate lawful basis under UK data-protection law for each purpose. Where information includes health or other special-category data, an additional lawful condition is identified. Consent to counselling is separate from the lawful basis used to process personal information.
Before counselling begins, the counselling agreement, confidentiality and use of information are explained in an age-appropriate way. Informed agreement is sought from the child or young person and, where required, from an appropriate person with parental responsibility. Consent may be recorded in writing or verbally and is reviewed throughout the work.
Young people aged 16 and over are generally presumed able to consent for themselves. Children under 16 may also be able to consent where they have sufficient maturity and understanding. Parents and carers are involved thoughtfully and appropriately while respecting the child or young person’s privacy and therapeutic space.
This website does not contain a contact form, create client accounts or store counselling records. Clicking an email link opens your own email service, and information you send is processed through our email provider. The website host may process limited technical information needed to deliver and protect the site.
Counselling records are held in encrypted digital storage with access restricted to authorised persons. We collect only information that is relevant and necessary for providing and administering the service.
Personal information is not sold. It is shared only when necessary and appropriate—for example with the counsellor providing support, professional supervisors, an agreed referrer or parent or carer, safeguarding services, insurers, legal authorities, or secure service providers. Information used in supervision is anonymised wherever possible.
Children and young people have privacy rights of their own. Information is not automatically shared with parents, carers or referrers. Relevant information may be shared without consent when this is necessary to address a serious safeguarding concern or meet a legal obligation.
Records are retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to meet professional, safeguarding, insurance and legal requirements. Retention periods are reviewed regularly, after which information is securely deleted or anonymised.
Depending on the circumstances, you may ask to access, correct, restrict, erase or object to the use of personal information. To ask a privacy question or exercise a right, email hello@storycounselling.co.uk. You may also raise a concern with the Information Commissioner’s Office.
ACCESSIBILITY
Story Counselling Services is committed to making our website and counselling services as accessible and inclusive as reasonably possible.
We aim to work toward the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA.
These internationally recognised guidelines help make websites easier to use for people with visual, hearing, physical or cognitive impairments, people who use assistive technology, and people with different communication or processing needs.
We aim to support keyboard navigation, screen-reading and other assistive technology, enlarged text, clear language, and access across computers, tablets and mobile phones.
Adjustments may include information in another format, extra processing time, adapted communication, consideration of sensory, mobility or neurodivergent needs, and discussion of whether online or in-person counselling is most accessible.
We consider each request individually and work collaboratively to understand what may be helpful. If you experience difficulty using this website, need information in another format or would like to discuss a reasonable adjustment, email hello@storycounselling.co.uk.
Accessibility statement · Last reviewed August 2026
THE APPROACH
Therapy can look different for everyone. Some people want to talk. Others find meaning through play, drawing, metaphor, movement or silence.
Our approach is child-centred, trauma-informed, relational and creative. That means we listen closely, follow what feels important to you and offer a safe and trusting relationship where change can unfold naturally.
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Simple information about sessions, costs and where support is available.
50 minutes
Each counselling session lasts 50 minutes.
£50
Per counselling session.
In-person counselling is available across the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. Online sessions may also be offered where these are appropriate for the child or young person’s age, needs and preferences.
CONCERNS & COMPLAINTS
We are committed to providing counselling that is safe, ethical and respectful.
If you have a concern about any aspect of our service, we encourage you to contact Story Counselling Services at hello@storycounselling.co.uk. We will listen carefully, take your concern seriously and explain how it will be addressed.
Children and young people may raise a concern themselves or with the support of a parent, carer, advocate or trusted professional.
Where a concern relates to a counsellor who is a member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), you may also contact BACP for information about its professional conduct and complaints process.
TAKE THE FIRST STEP
If you are looking for support for a child or young person, you are welcome to get in touch for an initial, no-pressure conversation.
hello@storycounselling.co.uk →