Worry, anxiety and panic
Constant worry, school refusal, physical symptoms before school, panic attacks or seeking a lot of reassurance.
Child & young person therapy
Online therapy for children and young people
There are few things more worrying for a parent than watching your child struggle. Our qualified child and adolescent therapists offer online counselling and CBT for children, teenagers and young people across the UK — a calm, confidential space to talk, build confidence and learn practical coping skills.
Real therapists, live availability
Our child & young person therapists
These therapists are qualified and experienced in working with children, teenagers and young people. Appointment times below are live — choose one to book at £68 per 60-minute session.
Understanding what is happening
When might counselling help a young person?
Young people today face pressure from many directions. Academic expectations, social media, friendships, family changes and uncertainty about the future can all feel overwhelming at once.
Some children are open about how they feel. Others keep worries to themselves out of embarrassment, fear of being judged, or not wanting to burden their family. When feelings are pushed down, they often show up elsewhere — withdrawal, anger, anxiety, low mood or changes in behaviour and sleep.
Bullying and online bullying, exam stress, friendship difficulties, family breakdown, bereavement or questions about identity are common reasons teenagers seek therapy. Sometimes there is no single event and a young person simply feels stuck, confused or emotionally overloaded.
Low mood and withdrawal
Losing interest in friends, hobbies or family life, spending more time alone, or seeming flat and tearful.
Anger and behaviour changes
Shorter temper, outbursts, arguments at home or school, or behaviour that seems out of character.
School and exam pressure
Exam stress, perfectionism, procrastination, fear of failing or struggling to concentrate on schoolwork.
Friendship difficulties and bullying
Falling out with friends, online bullying, social anxiety or feeling left out and different.
Sleep, appetite and self-esteem
Difficulty settling at night, changes in eating, harsh self-criticism or worries about body image and identity.
A practical way forward
How online therapy supports your child
Child and adolescent therapy provides a safe, confidential and consistent space where a young person can talk openly about what they are experiencing, at their own pace.
Many teenagers find it easier to speak to someone outside the family. A trained therapist listens carefully, without judgement or criticism, and uses age-appropriate CBT and counselling tools to help them understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviour — and to build resilience they can use long after therapy ends.
A confidential space to talk with a therapist outside the family
Age-appropriate CBT tools for anxiety, low mood and anger
Practical coping strategies for school, friendships and exams
Guidance for parents and guardians on supporting them at home
Confidentiality
Confidentiality and parental involvement
Counselling offers a confidential space where a young person can speak openly and honestly. That sense of privacy is often what allows them to explore difficult thoughts and feelings.
As a parent or guardian you will not receive detailed information about what is discussed in sessions. This confidentiality helps build trust between the young person and their therapist.
There are important exceptions. If a young person shares something suggesting they or someone else may be at risk of serious harm, the therapist has a duty to act to keep them safe. Where possible this is discussed with the young person first.
We also recognise that parents need reassurance. While session content remains private, your therapist can discuss general themes, progress and practical steps that may help at home. The aim is to balance privacy with safety so everyone feels supported.
How booking works
Booking therapy for a child or teenager
- 1Use the guided matcher and choose that the session is for a child or young person — we then only show therapists who work with that age group.
- 2Pick a time from live availability. Sessions run 08:00–22:00 daily and can be booked from three hours ahead.
- 3Tell us the young person's first name, age and pronouns, and confirm you are their parent or guardian. Your own details stay the billing and confirmation contact.
- 4Pay £68 to confirm. You receive a secure video link by email — no downloads, nothing to install.
- 5Attend the start of the first session if helpful, then the young person continues one-to-one with their therapist.
Further support
Other places to find help
- Young Minds — a leading UK charity for children and young people's mental health, with a dedicated parents helpline. youngminds.org.uk
- Childline — free, confidential support for anyone under 19. childline.org.uk — 0800 1111
- Your GP or school pastoral team can advise on NHS CAMHS referrals alongside private therapy.
- In an emergency call 999, or Samaritans on 116 123 at any time of day or night.
Related reading: online CBT for anxiety, social anxiety, self-esteem and stress.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions
Clear answers for parents and guardians about online therapy for children, teenagers and young people.
Our policy
Consent, confidentiality and safeguarding for under-18s
Parental responsibility and consent. Sessions for a client under 16 must be booked by a parent or legal guardian who holds parental responsibility, and who gives consent for the therapy on the young person's behalf. Young people aged 16 or 17 may book for themselves, subject to the therapist's own consent and safeguarding procedures. The young person's own agreement to attend is sought at the start of the work in every case.
Emergency contact details. The booking adult must provide accurate contact details and be reachable during the session, and must tell us of any change. For a 16 or 17-year-old booking independently, the therapist will agree an emergency contact and a safety plan before or during the first session.
Confidentiality and its limits. The therapist explains at the start what is kept private between them and the young person, and what will be shared with a parent or guardian. Confidentiality is not absolute: the therapist may need to share information without consent where there is a risk of serious harm to the young person or someone else, where there is a safeguarding concern, or where the law requires disclosure. Where possible the therapist will discuss this with the young person and the parent or guardian first.
Therapist age-range eligibility. Each therapist profile shows the age groups they work with. Only therapists with relevant experience of children and young people accept these bookings, and a therapist may decline work outside their competence.
If online work is not suitable. A therapist may decide, at any point, that online therapy is not appropriate — for example where risk is high, where a face-to-face or specialist service is needed, or where a private space is not available. If that happens, the therapist will explain the reason, signpost more suitable support, and any session already paid for but not delivered is refunded.
Not a crisis service. If a young person is in immediate danger, call 999 or attend A&E. See our crisis support page. Sessions are not recorded by us or by the booking platform, and must not be recorded by anyone without the therapist's prior written agreement. These rules form part of our terms of use.
Last reviewed by the Online CBT Counselling clinical team.
Take the next step at your pace
Find a therapist who works with children and young people.
Compare approaches, age groups and live availability, then book securely online for £68 per 60-minute session.
Find The Right Therapist For YouTherapy is personal and outcomes vary. This service does not diagnose, guarantee outcomes or replace urgent mental health care.
