Counselling for Young People Aged 16–18

The teenage years and early adulthood are genuinely hard. You are navigating school or college pressures, changes in relationships, questions about who you are — and often doing all of that without a clear map. It makes sense that things sometimes feel overwhelming.

Some young people come to counselling feeling anxious all the time, unable to switch off their thoughts, or struggling to sleep. Others are carrying a low mood that has been there for so long it has started to feel normal. Some are dealing with difficult family dynamics, identity questions, friendship fallouts, or something that happened in the past that keeps surfacing.

Whatever is going on for you — whether you can name it clearly or it is more of a vague sense that something isn’t right — that is a valid reason to seek support. You do not need to have hit a crisis point. You do not need a diagnosis. You just need to feel ready to talk.

Counselling at 16 or 17 is exactly the same as counselling for anyone else: a private, confidential conversation with a qualified therapist who is there to listen without judgment and help you make sense of your own experience.

Unlike NHS CAMHS, private counselling through Hope Therapy does not require a GP referral, a formal assessment, or a wait of months or years. Most young people who contact us begin sessions within a week.

Sessions last 50 minutes and take place online via Zoom or by telephone, so you can access support from your own home — at a time that fits around your school or college timetable. Face-to-face sessions are also available in a number of locations across England if you prefer.

At 16, you can refer yourself without involving your parents. You are also welcome to make the enquiry alongside a parent or guardian — whatever feels right for you. If a parent gets in touch first, we will always seek your consent before sessions begin.

The first step is a free 15-minute consultation. It is informal — a chance to tell us a little about what is going on, ask any questions you have, and decide whether this feels like the right fit. There is no pressure and no obligation to continue.

Watching your teenager struggle — and not knowing how to help — is one of the hardest things a parent faces. If you have found your way here, you are already doing something important.

Private counselling can be a genuinely useful alternative while your child is on a CAMHS waiting list, or if you feel the situation warrants support sooner than the NHS can provide it. At 16, young people in England are legally able to consent to their own therapy without parental involvement. This is important to understand: it means your teenager can refer themselves, and sessions will be confidential.

If you are making an enquiry on your teenager’s behalf, that is absolutely fine — but we will always speak directly with the young person before sessions begin, and their consent is central to how we work. Confidentiality means that session content will not be shared with parents unless your teenager agrees, or unless there is a serious safeguarding concern. Your therapist will explain these boundaries clearly at the outset.

Not sure how to approach the conversation with your teenager? During your free consultation, we are happy to talk through how to introduce the idea in a way that feels supportive rather than pressuring.