Please note: I am not currently taking on any new clients.
Welcome to
Jennifer Hager Psychotherapy
Child and Young Adult Counselling and Psychotherapy near Bath and Bradford-on-Avon
I work with children, adolescents and young adults offering a safe and consistent space to which any thoughts and feelings can be brought — to be contained, thought about and, over time, made present and manageable.
I have worked with young people for over 10 years. I began by training and working as a secondary school teacher. My experience of supporting children and young adults with special educational needs and disabilities in the classroom then led me to re-train as a counsellor and psychotherapist working with children and adolescents.
As a teacher, I found myself frustrated that the demands of the school curriculum - and its assessment - left little time to engage with the social, emotional and mental health needs of students going through times of trauma, difficulty, stress and those suffering from anxiety and low self-esteem.
It was often the case that these difficulties were directly linked to the individual experiences of attending school, and, without effective support in place, these students were finding their happiness and success at school impacted.
As a therapist, I have been able to focus exclusively on supporting young people on their journey towards independence and emotional and personal growth, both within their relationships and as individuals. My experience of working within schools, both specialist and mainstream, and my training, as both teacher and therapist, has given me a varied insight into childhood development and supporting individuals within the context of family life, as well as the demands of today’s school environment.
Qualifications:
- MBACP
- MSC in Psychodynamic Counselling and Psychotherapy with Children and Adolescents
- Qualified Teacher of Secondary English
- BA in English and Classical Studies
As a registered member of the BACP, I adhere to their code of ethics. This includes the requirement to undertake regular supervision of my work, continuing professional development, and hold professional indemnity insurance. I also hold a current DBS certificate.
Talk in Confidence
At different times, everyone experiences overwhelming emotion and, at these times, we can cope by getting rid of thoughts and feelings that are just too difficult to acknowledge, let alone think about. Often this manifests in temporary changes in behaviour or within relationships, especially at points of particular trauma or stress.
However, when these changes become prolonged or set in a destructive pattern, therapy provides the space where these thoughts and feelings can be accepted and ‘held on to’ by the therapist; it is important that they are recognised and thought about when a child is unable to do this for themselves. In time, I hope to help my clients explore where such difficult feelings are arising from, whether it be from past experiences or a very present episode of difficulty or trauma.
Building a Therapeutic Relationship
Through the experience of building a therapeutic relationship, and the self-awareness therapy can bring, a young person can be aided in processing difficult thoughts and feelings, as well as accessing different ways of behaving and relating.
I offer sessions both in person and online in a dedicated space in a tranquil, rural setting on the edge of the village of South Wraxall. This provides peace and privacy just a short drive from both Bath and Bradford-on-Avon (parking provided on site).
I offer sessions to young people of all ages, from primary school to young adults who have left school. For this reason, sessions will have a varied format from a focus on what is communicated through imaginative and creative play, to talking therapy.
Fees
Sessions are scheduled for 1 hour. This incorporates 50 minutes of therapy - either face-to-face or online - between client and therapist, and time to record notes from each session. The fee for each session is £60. I hold spaces which I can offer at a reduced fee in the case of financial hardship as discussed on a case-by-case basis.
I offer sessions on an open-ended basis. This means I will keep ‘your’ slot open for as long as you wish to keep it. My breaks for holidays will be shared with you well in advance. Similarly, if you cannot attend a session, I ask for a minimum of 72 hrs’ notice.
Payment can be made by cash, cheque or bank transfer.
What can therapy help with?
Children and young adults come to me for support across a number of areas.
Some examples of these are:
Anxiety
Feelings of hopelessness
Low self-esteem
Relationships
Identity
Low confidence
Issues relating to abuse
Trauma including early years
Self-harm and Eating Disorders
Difficulties adjusting to changes and transitions
Grief, loss and bereavement
Impact of separation or divorce
Difficulties experienced at home or at school
Emotional connection and expression
Sexuality and gender
Risk-seeking behaviour
Get in touch
Please note: I am not currently taking on any new clients.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or to arrange an initial assessment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to counselling, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.
In addition to providing face-to-face therapy, I also offer telephone counselling and online sessions for clients via Zoom or Microsoft Teams.
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