Carly Dale

I provide counselling sessions Mon-Thurs, 4.30pm -7.30pm (after school hours).

Every Child Counselling

Every Child Counselling offers one-to-one counselling sessions for children from 4 - 12 years of age. These face-to-face creative counselling sessions help support children during challenging times in their lives, or times when it perhaps feels difficult for them to understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. 

 Every Child Counsellor – Carly Dale

I am a qualified Children’s Counsellor, registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). I have extensive experience working with children across therapeutic and educational settings for over 10 years, and have managed counselling projects in a number of schools across London. 

I have worked as a School Counsellor in both state schools and independent schools throughout London, and have experience working with a wide range of wellbeing needs that children may face. I have previously worked for the children’s mental health charity Place2Be, counselling children for eight years, across numerous schools, and also have experience of establishing a counselling service in an independent Primary School in South London. 

My counselling experience with children includes working with issues such as anxiety, challenging life events, family conflict, parental/family separation, emotional regulation, bereavement, loss, anger, relationships/friendships, self-esteem and identity, and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).

Qualifications:

Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling Children in Schools (BACP accredited): Awarded by the University of East London; Delivered by Place2Be (Children’s Mental Health Service)

BSc Psychology - Cardiff University

I hold an enhanced DBS check.

Why Choose Counselling?

Giving thought to our mental health is incredibly important – not only in times where we are experiencing changes or difficulties, but also in day-to-day situations, so as to ‘futureproof’ our minds and aid resilience. Childhood is the time within which we start to learn our own ways to cope with the world around us and what may happen in life – both the joy and the challenges life may bring. 

We communicate our thoughts and feelings in many ways, even when it may feel difficult to do so. As children, what we say, what we create, how we play and how we interact with others, can give huge insight into our minds. I am able to offer a confidential space for children to explore ‘their world’ and support them in understanding their own thoughts, their own feelings and their own actions.  

An Integrative Approach to Counselling

Every child is unique, and therefore I use a range of therapeutic approaches in order to assess how best to support the child in their counselling journey. These approaches include psychodynamic, person-centred, attachment-based theories, play therapy and elements of cognitive behavioural therapy. I understand the importance of treating every child as an individual, never making assumptions, and I strive to understand life from their perspective. 

I use creative and playful mediums to suit the developmental needs of every individual child, allowing the child to feel safe and secure in exploring their thoughts and feelings, and also allowing their emotions to be communicated in a creative and child-friendly space. In addition, I use my skillset to support any SEND needs.

What to expect:

After making initial contact with Every Child Counselling, an assessment phone call will be arranged. This call (lasting 15 minutes) will be used to gather information about the referral from the parent/carer, to explain the counselling process, and to formulate suitability for the service. The initial phone assessment session is free of charge, with a paid face-to-face assessment session following on if suitable. One-to-one sessions with the child can then commence if appropriate. 

Consent will be gained from both the parent/carer and the child in order for sessions to commence. I offer a minimum of six sessions per client, so as to establish a meaningful relationship with the child. 

Fees: Each session is £70, and sessions last 50 minutes.

Clients: Children from 4-12 years of age.

Location: Sessions with children are held face-to-face in Colliers Wood, South London.

I offer support for specific concerns and longer-term challenges, including:

• Worry/Anxiety

• Low Mood

• Self-Esteem

• Bereavement/Loss

• Exam/School Stress

• School Transitions

• Friendships/Bullying

• Life Stress

• Challenges At Home/School

• Traumatic Life Events/Significant Changes

• Family Conflict/Relationships

• Parental/Family Separation

• Emotional Regulation (i.e. difficulty with prolonged feelings of anger/’meltdowns’)

• Wellbeing associated with SEND (i.e. Autism, ADHD)

Please visit the Every Child Counselling website or use the email given to make contact regarding a referral - I look forward to hearing from you.