Fleur Harris Counselling & Psychotherapy
Supporting children, adolescents and parents
About Me
Welcome to my website. I am a psychotherapist providing 1-1 Child & Adolescent sessions in Teddington & online, and Therapeutic parent consultations.
I have worked with children and adolescents for 17 years, first as a secondary school teacher and now as a therapist. I have assisted children aged 4 -18 from many different family backgrounds & cultures and in a variety of settings. Alongside my private therapy practice I work as a family group psychotherapist for ‘The School and Family Works’ and I facilitate an arts based wellbeing group ‘The Wellbeing Warriors’ in a London based primary school.
I am passionate about supporting the mental health needs of young people and assisting parents and teachers in this endeavour. I am a mother to 2 school aged children and I bring to my work my experience and belief in:
- The healing capacity of play & creativity,
- The value of meaningful dialogue in relationship, and,
- The innate human drive towards wholeness and health.
As a fully-qualified child psychotherapist I am a registered member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy, and strive to abide by their codes of ethics and best practice.
My Qualifications
- MA Integrative Child Psychotherapy (with Distinction) Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education
- Post graduate Diploma in The Therapeutic use of the Arts Institute of Arts in Therapy and Education
- PGCE Secondary School teaching University of Roehampton
- MA Theology University of Oxford
'Children are not things to be molded but are people to be unfolded' Jess Lair.
How do I Work?
As an Integrative child & adolescent psychotherapist I am informed by a variety of theories and techniques according to needs of my clients. These include attachment theories, psychodynamic models, neurobiology and developmental psychology.
Central to my approach however is the value I place on the relationship between myself and the young person I am supporting. I aim to provide a safe and empathic space for a child/young person to express their feelings and identify their difficulties with my assistance.
Conversation in sessions can take the form of verbal dialogue or (especially for younger children) can evolve through the mediums of art and play: the natural language of children. Drawing, storytelling, clay modelling, sand tray work, puppetry and drama are all helpful modes for children to express the challenges they are facing. Working with art and imagination can bring depth to the sessions as well as fun. As Violet Oaklander has said: ‘fantasy gives us an access to our real experience.’ Play is also scientifically healing in itself: the self defence system of our brain becomes inhibited and the social communication system activated when we are immersed in creative play. In this state we are all better able to converse deeply with another to make sense of our experiences.
During a typical session I stay alongside the child as a guide, to help identify & untangle difficulties, to offer an appropriate level of challenge and to shine light on different perspectives. I am trained to keep a look out for symbol and metaphor: a creative landscape in which healing as well as pain can be expressed. Thinking psychodynamically means that I take seriously the unconscious communications of my clients. I consider how as well as what is communicated, what is left unsaid, and the meaning behind this in relation to the young person’s relationships and experiences outside of the therapy room.
I hold a particular interest in the therapeutic benefits of outdoor nature for young people. Where appropriate I find opportunities to bring natural objects and materials into the therapy space.
What presenting difficulties do I work with?
The issues my clients present with might include (but are not limited to):
Anxiety & Social Anxiety
Difficulties relating to attachment and separation
Bereavement and family illness
Low self worth
Challenges with regulating emotions
Challenges related to identity
Sibling rivalry
Difficulties in family or peer relationships
Traumatic experiences
Coping with parental separation or divorce
Living with a presentation described or diagnosed as neurodiverse: (eg. ASD, ADHD)
Emotionally based school avoidance (EBSA)
Living as a young carer
What are the next steps if you would like me to work with your child?
After an initial enquiry I ask you to complete a brief questionnaire and we will arrange an initial parent assessment: an opportunity for you to share more about your family and the problems arising and to ask any questions. Thereafter I would suggest a parent meeting at least once termly to review how things are going.
Adolescents usually attend their own assessment sessions with or without their parents. In all cases parental support and engagement can positively impact the outcome of the therapy.
Sessions are usually held weekly, at the same time each week during school term time.
Online Therapeutic Parent consultations
Sometimes parents prefer to seek support to assist their child without their child attending therapy sessions. I am able to think carefully and non-judgmentally with you, offering a therapeutic perspective on your child’s difficulties. I might, for example, help you to see wisdom or reason behind your child’s ‘problem’ which is understandably hard to notice in the all-consuming, day-to-day reality of parenting. Accessible brain science can help us understand the how’s and why’s of children’s behaviour when they are anxious, overwhelmed or angry. Attachment theories offer a useful perspective on children’s behaviour within relationships and how this can alter during times of stress.
Practical strategies based on these insights can leave you feeling better equipped to support your child.
I firmly believe that parents know their own children best of all and are therefore have the potential to offer them the best support of all. As Van der Kolk has stated: ‘The parent child connection is the most powerful mental health intervention known to mankind.'
My ultimate aim through these sessions is to help you to find ways to strengthen this connection.
My Location and Availability
Child & Adolescent psychotherapy sessions are usually held weekly at the same time each week during term time only.
Duration can be short term (6 - 12 sessions) or an ongoing commitment can be arranged and reviewed as required.
I currently offer sessions on Tuesday & Thursday afternoons/ evenings at the Wellbeing Centre Teddington and also offer online sessions by arrangement for adolescents and parents. I am able to offer sessions in some Richmond based primary schools (please enquire).
My Fees
I charge £70 for a 50 minute session and request payment by BACS following each session.
Sessions cancelled in less than 24 hours will be charged in full. I reserve some lower cost spaces according to need and availability (please feel free to enquire).
Parent consultations (regarding child clients) in person and online are charged at £70 for an initial 1 hour assessment, and £35 for 30 minute interim reviews.
Online therapeutic parent consultations (for parents whose children I am not working with) can be booked flexibly and are charged at £70 for a 50 minute session.
Confidentiality and GDPR
Therapy sessions and parent consultations are confidential. If a client or parent discloses information indicating that there is significant risk to somebody’s safety or wellbeing, it may be necessary for me to share this information with relevant professionals. Wherever possible I will inform my clients and their parents before this happens.
I always find an age-appropriate way to explain my limits of confidentiality to children when we form a contract at the start of our work.
I receive regular clinical supervision to support my practice but clients’ personal details are protected.
I am registered with ICO (The Information Comissioner’s Office) ref no. ZB640738 and will provide you with my data protection policy should we begin work together.
Get in touch
Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how I work, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. You can fill out the contact form or email me at fleurharrispsychotherapy@gmail.com
You can also call me on +44 7979987422 if you would prefer to leave a message or speak to me first. I am happy to discuss any queries or questions you may have prior to arranging an initial appointment.