Jane Teal

I am not available on Mondays.

I am an Integrative Child  and Young Persons Counsellor and Therapist having qualified in 2015 after working as a primary school teacher and mentor to young people. 

I have worked as a volunteer with children in a women's refuge as well as with the NSPCC delivering workshops and assemblies to children on how to recognise abuse and where to go for help.

I am currently working as a volunteer counsellor with the charity Place 2Be providing therapy within a school setting for children and young people up to the age of 18.

I believe child counselling/therapy to be a form of social-emotional help and support for struggling children and young people and their parents and carers.

As an Integrative therapist, I am trained to work with the arts and metaphors.

To that end, I use talking therapy techniques as well as puppets, drawing, painting, stories, music, sand tray and role play.

Images, stories and metaphors are often an easier and psychologically way to communicate about difficult feelings and challenging situations.

Through therapy, children are able to develop their ability to self reflect and to foster an inner resilience.

My practice is situated in a comfortable room in Teddington and is fully equiped with a variety of  resources.  There is no wheelchair access.

I am fully insured and have regular supervision sessions to support my work.

 Sessions are 50 minutes long. Children/young people are usually seen on a face to face basis but online sessions can be arranged via Zoom as long as there is a confidential space at home for them to use.

I will have parent/carer sessions next to individual sessions. However, I always plan regular feedback meetings with parents/carers so that they can reflect on how best to support their child.

After initial contact has been made by the parent/carer (either by telephone or email) a first meeting is arranged where both client and parent/carer attend and where presenting issues are briefly discussed from both the child/young person's viewpoint and the parent/carer's.

The first session with the client alone will focus on helping them to feel at ease and beginning to build a therapeutic relationship with them.

If client and parent/carer wish to proceed with therapy, we agree to start with 3/4 sessions. The sessions are reviewed with the client and if he/she wishes to continue then the parent/carer will be invited to attend a separate session where a full medical and life history will be taken.