Welcome to CBT for Young People

A safe space to talk, explore, and feel better.

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Meet Gemma – Your CBT Therapist

Hi, I’m Gemma! I’m a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist (CBT) with over 10 years of experience working with children, teens, and families.

My job is to help you understand your thoughts, feelings, and actions so you can feel more in control of what’s going on in your life. I know things can feel overwhelming sometimes — I’m here to listen, support you, and work together to make things feel better.

I aim to make therapy feel relaxed, friendly, and helpful. You can talk about anything without pressure or judgment. We’ll go at your pace.

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What Is CBT? And How Can It Help?

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. It’s a talking therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are all connected — and how small changes can make a big difference.

If you’re feeling sad, worried, overwhelmed, or anxious, CBT can give you tools to handle those feelings and start feeling better.

 

Breaking Down CBT

Cognitive – This means your thoughts. You’ll learn how the things you think can affect how you feel and act.

Behavioural – This is about what you do (or don’t do). We’ll explore how your actions affect your mood, and what small changes might help.

Therapy – It’s a safe space to explore all of this with someone trained to help. That’s where I come in!

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What Does CBT Look Like for You?

CBT with young people is engaging, collaborative, and adapted to your age and interests. We might use talking, drawing, role-playing, or games — whatever works best for you.

You’ll explore:

• What thoughts come into your mind when things feel hard

• How those thoughts make you feel in your body

• What you do (or avoid) when you feel this way

Together, we’ll work on ways to change the patterns that aren’t helping — so you feel more calm, confident, and in control.

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What to Expect in CBT Sessions

Here’s how we usually work together:

• Goal Setting – We’ll decide together what you’d like to work on, like feeling less anxious or more confident.

• Weekly Sessions – You’ll usually meet with your therapist once a week. Sessions last around 40–60 minutes.

• Talking & Activities – You’ll talk, reflect, and sometimes do activities to practise new skills.

• In-Between Practice – You might be asked to try out small tasks between sessions — like writing down thoughts or using a calming technique.

Parents may be involved, especially for younger children, but we’ll always talk about that together first.

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How Long Does CBT Last?

Most people start with 4–5 sessions to see if CBT is a good fit. If it’s working well, therapy may continue for up to 20 sessions — depending on what you’re working through.

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Is Therapy Confidential?

Yes — what you talk about in therapy stays private.

The only time your therapist might need to share something is if they’re worried about your safety or someone else’s. If that happens, they’ll talk to you about it first.

You can also ask to see what your therapist writes about your sessions, if you’d like.

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Is CBT Right for You?

If you’re feeling low, worried, anxious, or just not yourself — CBT might help. It’s not about having all the answers — it’s about finding a way to feel better, together.

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Ready to Get Started?

You don’t have to go through this alone. If you think CBT might be helpful, get in touch, or ask your paretns to arrange a session. We’re here to support you.