Support After Sexual Trauma for Young People Aged 5-25

---

Every child's experience is unique, and there is no right or wrong way for a child or young person to respond to sexual trauma. Many children do not have the words, emotional language, or developmental understanding to explain what has happened to them or how it has affected them. Instead, their experiences may be expressed through their feelings, behaviour, relationships, play, or creativity.

I understand that trust takes time and that feeling safe cannot be rushed. For many children and young people, coming to counselling can feel scary, unfamiliar, or overwhelming. That is why the first sessions are focused on building a trusting relationship and creating a space where your child is not only safe, but feels safe.

I meet every child where they are emotionally and developmentally. There is no expectation that a child will sit and talk about difficult experiences. Instead, I use a range of therapeutic approaches, including play therapy, sand therapy, art, creative therapies, storytelling, and other child-centred activities to help children express themselves in ways that feel natural, comfortable, and safe.

I explain counselling in child-friendly ways so that children understand why they are coming without feeling frightened or pressured. For example, I may explain that they are here because something has happened that has hurt them, upset them, confused them, or made them feel unsafe, and that this is a place where they can receive support and be listened to.

One of the biggest worries many children have is that they will be expected to talk about what happened to them. Children and families need to know that I will never ask a child to tell me what happened or ask them for details about their abuse or trauma.

Children and young people are always in control of what they choose to share. Therapy is not about investigating what happened or gathering evidence. It is about helping children feel safe, understood, supported, and empowered. If a child chooses to talk about their experiences, they can do so in their own time, in their own way, and at a pace that feels right for them.

As trust grows, I gently support children and young people to make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Together, we work towards understanding the impact of what has happened, developing healthy coping strategies, building resilience, and helping them regain a sense of safety, confidence, and hope.

I also follow pre-trial therapy guidelines, which means that children and young people can access specialist therapeutic support even when a criminal investigation or court process is ongoing. Children should not have to wait months or years for help while legal processes take place. They deserve support when they need it most, and therapy can be provided in a way that protects both their well-being and the integrity of any ongoing investigation.

Sessions last 45 minutes and are tailored to the individual needs of each child or young person.

Above all, I aim to provide a warm, compassionate, and nurturing space where children and young people feel heard, believed, understood, accepted without judgement, and supported to heal. 

Every child deserves the opportunity to make sense of their experiences, rediscover their strengths, and move forward with hope for the future.

With over eight years' experience as a Social Worker and former NSPCC Children's Services Practitioner delivering the specialist Letting the Future In programme, I bring extensive expertise in assessing and responding to the therapeutic needs of children and young people who have experienced sexual abuse, trauma, exploitation, and other adverse childhood experiences.

My experience includes undertaking comprehensive therapeutic assessments, delivering specialist trauma-informed interventions, managing complex safeguarding concerns, contributing to multi-agency planning, and supporting children and families through criminal justice, child protection, and care proceedings. This enables me to provide high-quality, evidence-informed assessments and interventions that place the child's safety, wellbeing, voice, and recovery at the centre of all work undertaken.

I accept referrals from Social Services for children and young people who may benefit from specialist therapeutic support. Following receipt of a referral, I will usually arrange an initial consultation, often via video call, with the allocated social worker and/or other relevant professionals. This ensures a coordinated and informed approach from the outset and allows for an initial exploration of the child or young person's needs, risks, and strengths.

As part of the assessment process, I undertake a detailed exploration of the child or young person's presentation, including:

• The nature of the referral and presenting concerns
• The impact of experiences on emotional well-being, behaviour, relationships, development, and daily functioning
• Any current safeguarding concerns, risks, or protective factors
• Strengths, resilience, interests, and coping strategies
• Any disabilities, neurodevelopmental differences, communication needs, or additional support requirements
• Family relationships, attachment experiences, and the response of parents and carers
• The child's support network, including professionals and significant relationships
• Educational experiences, attendance, and any support required within school settings
• Involvement of other agencies and professionals
• 
  

This assessment provides a comprehensive understanding of the child or young person’s lived experience and informs a detailed therapeutic formulation of need and appropriate intervention planning.

Therapeutic intervention is always tailored to the individual child or young person and delivered in a trauma-informed, child-centred, and strengths-based way. Interventions may include play therapy, sand therapy, creative therapies, emotional regulation work, psychoeducation, attachment-informed approaches, and trauma processing work, depending on the child's age, developmental stage, and needs.

Throughout my involvement, I work in close partnership with all agencies supporting the child or young person, including Social Services, schools, health professionals, foster carers, residential staff, and family members. Multi-agency collaboration is central to ensuring a coordinated, consistent, and holistic approach that promotes safety, stability, and positive outcomes for the child.

Where required, I can provide written assessments, therapeutic formulations, progress updates, and professional reports to support care planning, safeguarding processes, and multi-agency decision-making.

My approach is grounded in the belief that every child deserves timely, specialist, and compassionate support that recognises both the impact of adversity and the inherent strengths within each child and family system. The ultimate aim is to support healing, recovery, resilience, and improved emotional well-being.