Child and adolescent psychotherapy is a specialist form of therapy that helps children and young people make sense of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. It looks beyond the surface to understand what may be driving emotional distress and supports the development of healthier, more integrated ways of relating to self and others. Sessions may involve play, talking, or other creative forms of expression, depending on the child’s age and needs.

At Safe Steps, we use a co-therapy model where two therapists work in parallel, one with the child and one with the parent or carer. This allows the child to explore their inner world in a safe, consistent space, while the parent is supported to understand what the child’s behaviour and communication may be expressing. Working in this way helps both sides of the relationship to grow and heal together

Play therapy focuses primarily on helping children express and process emotions through play. Child psychotherapy uses play too, but as one part of a deeper psychotherapeutic process that explores unconscious feelings, developmental patterns, and the child’s relational world. The goal is to promote lasting emotional and structural change, not only symptom relief or behavioural change.

Parent sessions offer space to think about what might lie beneath a child’s behaviour, the feelings, fears, or unmet needs being expressed through actions. Together we explore how these can be met with curiosity and empathy so the child feels seen and understood. Parents and carers are supported to respond in new ways that promote safety, connection, and emotional growth.