I put children first because growing-up experiences impact on and influence who we are as adults.
Providing space, time and playful encounter to explore together
what it means to be oneself. Thinking together when
developmental pathways feel blocked or it's hard to find ways to
feel better.
Working relationally, with a developmentally informed and trauma aware approach to offer a sensitive, safe, warm attachment-based presence where feelings can be felt, worries can be listened to and troubles can be talked about.
I am an Integrative Child Psychotherapist, that means I adapt my way of working to specific needs and ways of being.
Habitual patterns which have accumulated over time can become troubling affecting here and now experiences. I focus on discovering and understanding internal beliefs and motivations to help young people feel happier about themselves and more able to develop, grow and learn.
Difference and often subtle aspects make us unique as humans. I provide a quiet, safe space using a variety of resources for young people to explore, grow and develop understandings of themselves, significant others and the world around them.
I have a supervisor with whom I discuss my work, and I regularly attend workshops and training to further develop my practice
Experience in the room is self defined. The space becomes unique where each young person choses to be as they feel they need to be.
Drawing, fiddling, sand tray play, combining materials, ball-play, clay, plasticine, Playdoh or simply talking, whatever helps to create feelings of openness and rightness in simply being.
I offer time and space in a comforting and understanding environment to think and feel together about inner and outer experience.
An initial meeting to understand worries and concerns and think through needs and difficulties.
Sessions are held initially over three
consecutive weeks to get a feel of ongoing
therapy. Time
and space is created to meet and get to know each other, become used the room and to think about
whether therapy is suitable.
We come together to think through hoped for outcomes and expectations.
Essentially successful therapy happens through regular sessions within a kind and trusting environment.
A parental consent form is signed and parameters around safe-guarding and child protection are discussed.
Psychotherapy is a deep exploration of experience which looks at patterns of thinking, feeling and behaviour that may have early origins.
Psychological development like growing up happens progressively. Sometimes thoughts and feelings at any age may become problematic and stuck through experiences, confusions or conflict, needing support and understanding to help to restore natural development.
I work with people between the ages of 3-25 to understand underlying difficulties and worries. These can include separation anxiety, low mood and self worth, anger, obsessive thoughts and behaviours, eating disorders and self-harming. Collaboratively we discover new ways of expressing difficult thoughts, feelings to repair relationships and self-esteem.
There are many ways young people demonstrate they are struggling. I am here to help young people discover, perhaps for the first time, a true sense of who they are.
The young person needs to want to take the first step towards change in order for a therapeutic relationship begin.
ADHD, ASD, Anxiety Problems, Behavioural Problems, Dyslexia, Dyspraxia
Together we think about how each YP experiences themselves emotionally, others relationally and the world around them.
Asking questions and thinking together -
What's happening in mind, body and brain when YP is in ongoing psychological pain?
Feelings around believing oneself to be unfavourably different or psychologically unsafe
Of feeling isolated, lonely, alienated, rejected, no sense of belonging or positive connection to others
Of beliefs around social defeat / worthlessness / shame
Of unacknowledged feelings of hopelessness and meaninglessness
Healing emotional pain in the therapeutic relationship happens gradually as paths of understanding develop over time. Releasing stress through feeling acknowledged and understood leads towards discovering meaning and hope.
Reflective, nurturing and consistent relationships in childhood foster self-esteem and confidence with positive impact on learning, developing relationships, building resilience and being happy.
Shared connection around the child is key to engendering feelings of safety where children can feel properly seen and heard who they are on the inside and feel thought about, safe and understood. To that end I try to humbly hold understanding of the child’s thoughts and feelings; to balance therapeutic confidentiality with linked-up, safe support.
Openly communicating and working with parents, carers, teachers and outside organisations in trust to ensure developmental needs are sensitively understood. As an integral part of my therapeutic provision for each child I offer one to one parent consultations on an individually agreed basis.
Everybody has agency in their own process, beginning with building a personalised story created collaboratively towards goal based outcomes.
Change happens with understanding and acceptance of self and from validation gained by being listened to and acknowledged.
If you have a concern about a child or young person please get in touch.
Catherine Van de Steen
Openings
Centre for Counselling & Psychotherapy
2 Princes Buildings
George Street
Bath
BA1 2ED
Email: childtherapy@icloud.com
Call: 07966 429 599
