Signs of Distress in Children & Young People

General Early Warning Signs
  • Significant change in behaviour/mood
  • Sleeping difficulties
  • Change in eating habits
  • Isolating/withdrawing
  • Notable reduced school performance
  • Neglecting hygiene/self-care
  • Disinterest in previous hobbies
  • Self-harm

 

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How Counselling Can Help

If you or someone you know is experiencing difficulties such as these, counselling could help with exploring feelings and finding solutions.

Everybody has a unique reason they are drawn to seek counselling and their own hopes and expectations of what it can offer. I aim to make this as comfortable as possible by working from the heart and attentively listening to someone’s distress, to fully feel their emotions and gain understanding of their world. This is conducted with sensitivity to individual preference and pace.

 

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Signs for Primary School Children
  • Marked withdrawal, quieter or more subdued than usual
  • Anxious behaviour
  • Obsessive behaviours (repeatedly doing the same thing)
  • More active or unsettled than normal
  • Ongoing friendship difficulties
  • Playing alone or not at all
  • Isolating from family
  • Often tearful or unhappy
  • Persistent anger/aggressive towards others

 

Signs for Secondary School Children
  • Persistently low/unhappy
  • More frequently irritable
  • Lacking energy or motivation
  • Disturbed sleep
  • Increased anxiety
  • Withdrawn or socially isolating
  • Change in eating habits
  • Reduced school performance/missing school
  • Poor concentration and attention
  • Frequently aggressive and in trouble