Linda Kent

After school hours, mainly Mon, Tues, Wed, but can be flexible. 

Depending on the school and circumstances, I can see children/ young people at their school.

If I was working with your child, I would typically work creatively but according to their character and preferences, needs and personality. Your child would benefit from my person- centred training, empowering them to find their own inner strength and resources, building their own resilience and finding coping strategies that work for them.

I believe they would gain from my lifetime of professional experiences working with 0-18 yrs as a Nursery Nurse/ Children's Practitioner in education, special needs, paediatric ward, voluntary sector, community clubs, NSPCC ( 7 yrs, ) as well as my 10 yrs counselling experiences with Relate. 

I offer a variety of resources to enable a child/ young person to have fun appropriately and to commumicate/ express themselves. This may be verbally or non verbally, playing or creating, (playdough, sand, collage, paints, lego, figurines, games, drawing etc)

On finishing I would aim to be saying goodbye to a happier, more resilient child/ young person with increased self confidence having had a positive, experience of counselling.

I take a very client led approach, drawing from my extensive knowledge of a variety of other modalitites, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (exploring thoughts, feelings & behaviours), Narrative, Solution focussed, Psychodynamic and other theories including, attachment, poly vagal theory and neuro science research.

Qualifications etc :

NNEB (nursery nurse) 1984.

Person- Centred Counselling. foundational Degree 2012.

Member of BACP & BACP Children, Young people and Families. 

Extensive training shorter courses including CBA, Narrative Therapy, Gestalt, Safeguarding, Anxiety, Neuro diversity, Gender Diversity, LGBTQ, Depression, Bereavement, Working Creatively,  with disabilies, Autism, Poly Vagal Theory etc.

My experience includes;

Anxiety & Stress, loss & bereavement, Family changes, Friendships, Relationships, Identity, Self esteem, Depression, Anger, Suicidal thoughts, Self harm, Autism, ADHD, and gender/ sexuality issues.

I If you’d like to talk to discuss the suitability of counselling and the way I  would work with a spesific child/ young person, I offer a free 20min phone call.

In the first session we would begin to establish a connection. Clear explanations will be given and any queries can be addressed. The contract will be signed and Data Protection agreed (how and why I store what personal details and where). The assessment will be carried out informally.

A parent is expected to be present initially and, depending on the child, can stay as long as the child needs them and then retreat to the nearby waiting room