Child Psychological Therapies & Counselling (7+)
A safe, compassionate and supportive space for children and young people to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Our personalised, evidence-informed therapeutic support aims to promote emotional wellbeing, build confidence and develop meaningful coping strategies.
Welcome to Lycali's Psychological Therapies
Children and young people can experience a wide range of emotional and psychological difficulties, from anxiety, low mood and self-esteem difficulties to challenges with friendships, change, identity and family life.
At Lycali, we provide individualised psychological therapy and counselling delivered by appropriately qualified practitioners.
Our approach is person-centred, neuro-affirming and sensitive to each child's developmental level, communication preferences, family circumstances and individual experiences.
Your child does not need an autism, ADHD or other neurodevelopmental diagnosis to access psychological support.
We focus on understanding the difficulties they are experiencing and identifying an appropriate therapeutic approach.
Important: Before Your Child's First Session
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before any therapeutic assessment or therapy session can take place.
Please review your welcome letter, terms and conditions and invoice carefully. If mandatory documentation remains outstanding, the first appointment may need to be rearranged.
At a Glance
Follow the stages below to understand the therapeutic pathway.
Initial Enquiry & Registration
When you contact Lycali, our team will discuss your child's current difficulties, strengths, background and what you are hoping therapy may help with.
We may ask about your child's emotional wellbeing, school experiences, relationships, communication preferences, previous support and any current concerns.
If you decide to proceed, you will be asked to complete our registration process so that your child can be securely registered within our clinical management system.
- Child and parent/carer contact details.
- GP information.
- Relevant developmental and medical background.
- Current emotional wellbeing and support needs.
- School or educational information.
- Previous therapeutic or mental health support.
- Communication and accessibility requirements.
- Consent and parental responsibility information.
Please let us know about any reasonable adjustments or additional support your child may need to access therapy.
Your Welcome Letter & Documents
Following registration, Lycali will issue a welcome letter explaining the next steps of your child's therapeutic support pathway.
Your welcome information will include three important documents.
Terms & Conditions
Information about the service, appointments, payment, confidentiality, cancellations and responsibilities.
Invoice
Confirmation of the agreed fees, payment requirements and additional charges, if they apply.
Consent to Treatment
The relevant consent documentation for psychological therapy or counselling, completed by the appropriate person.
Please review the documentation and complete and return all mandatory forms before the first appointment.
Please follow the payment instructions provided in your invoice.
No therapeutic assessment or therapy session can take place until all required forms are completed.
Payment & Session Booking
Your invoice will confirm the agreed therapeutic assessment or session fees and payment arrangements.
Once payment has been received and the required documentation completed, Lycali can progress your child's appointment arrangements.
Our administration team will confirm the appointment date, time, practitioner and whether support will be delivered online, at a clinic or another agreed location.
Please complete all requested questionnaires and consent documentation.
If your child has any communication preferences or accessibility needs, please let us know in advance.
Pre-Therapy Questionnaires Through WriteUpp
Before therapy begins, parents/carers may be asked to complete questionnaires that help the practitioner understand the child's developmental history, emotional wellbeing, strengths and support needs.
All required questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp, Lycali's clinical management system.
Questionnaire links will be sent separately. Please complete these before attending the first session.
Child Developmental History Questionnaire
This explores the child's developmental history, education, health, emotional wellbeing, family circumstances, strengths, interests and everyday functioning.
Psychoeducation, Coaching & Therapeutic Support Questionnaire
This helps us understand your child's emotional wellbeing, current concerns, relationships, goals, strengths and areas requiring support.
The information helps the practitioner tailor the assessment and therapeutic approach.
Please allow enough uninterrupted time to complete each questionnaire carefully in one sitting.
Questionnaires cannot be saved part-way through and cannot be resubmitted once submitted.
Please check your answers carefully before selecting Submit.
Allow Enough Time
Have relevant background information available before starting.
Cannot Save Progress
Partially completed questionnaires cannot be saved and resumed later.
One Submission Only
Once submitted, the questionnaire cannot be resubmitted using the same link.
If you would like a copy of submitted questionnaire responses, please contact Lycali.
We can share a copy, subject to appropriate identity and information-sharing checks.
If you notice an error after submission, please contact our administration team so it can be addressed.
All required WriteUpp questionnaires, registration information and consent documentation must be completed before the relevant therapy session.
Additional Questionnaires & Measures
Depending on your child's age, emotional wellbeing, presenting concerns and therapeutic goals, the clinician may request additional outcome measures.
- Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ).
- Child self-report questionnaires.
- Anxiety measures.
- Mood and wellbeing questionnaires.
- Parent/carer questionnaires.
- Goal-based outcome measures.
Any required additional questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp.
Please check your email inbox, junk and spam folders for questionnaire notifications.
These measures help the clinician understand your child's current experiences, agree meaningful goals and review progress during therapy.
The measures are interpreted alongside the wider therapeutic assessment and clinical judgement.
They do not, by themselves, determine a diagnosis.
Choosing the Right Practitioner
Lycali works with a multidisciplinary network of appropriately qualified practitioners who have different training, professional backgrounds and specialist interests.
Our team will consider the reasons for referral, your child's age, presenting difficulties, therapeutic goals and any preferences when identifying a suitable practitioner.
Clinical Psychologist
A clinical psychologist may be particularly appropriate where there are complex psychological needs, multiple interacting difficulties, longstanding concerns or a need for specialist psychological formulation.
Clinical psychologists may use approaches such as CBT, ACT, systemic or other evidence-informed therapies according to their individual training and expertise.
Psychotherapist
A psychotherapist may support children and young people experiencing emotional, relational or psychological difficulties, including challenges associated with past experiences, identity, anxiety, relationships or emotional regulation.
The therapeutic approach will depend on the practitioner's training, experience and the child's needs.
Counsellor
A counsellor may offer a supportive therapeutic space to explore emotions, life experiences, self-esteem, relationships, stress and everyday challenges.
Counselling may be appropriate where the main focus is emotional support, exploration and developing coping strategies.
These are general descriptions rather than fixed referral rules.
We will consider clinical complexity, professional registration, training, experience, safeguarding needs and the type of therapeutic intervention required.
Where appropriate, we may recommend further assessment or a different service before therapy begins.
Initial Therapeutic Assessment
The first therapeutic appointment provides an opportunity for the practitioner to understand your child's current needs, emotional wellbeing, strengths and goals.
The appointment may involve discussion, observation and age-appropriate assessment activities.
- Emotional wellbeing and mental health.
- Anxiety, worries and stress.
- Mood and emotional regulation.
- Confidence and self-esteem.
- Friendships and relationships.
- Family circumstances and relationships.
- School-related challenges.
- Traumatic or stressful experiences where relevant.
- Neurodivergence and self-understanding.
- Current coping strategies.
- Safety, risk and safeguarding considerations.
- Therapeutic goals and priorities.
Parents or carers will usually attend all or part of the initial assessment appointment.
The child or young person will also be involved in a developmentally appropriate way.
The practitioner will confirm attendance arrangements before the appointment.
We recognise the importance of creating a safe therapeutic relationship where children and young people feel comfortable discussing their experiences.
Confidentiality, information sharing, parent/carer involvement and safeguarding responsibilities will be explained in an age-appropriate way.
Information may need to be shared where there is a serious concern about safety or where disclosure is otherwise required or permitted by law.
Following the initial assessment, your practitioner will discuss whether therapy is appropriate, which approach may be helpful and the recommended frequency of sessions.
Choosing a Therapeutic Approach
There is no single therapeutic model that suits every child or young person.
The approach will depend on your child's difficulties, preferences, clinical needs and the practitioner's training.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
CBT explores connections between thoughts, feelings, behaviours and everyday experiences.
It may help with anxiety, low mood, worries, avoidance and developing practical coping strategies.
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT focuses on developing psychological flexibility, understanding emotions, identifying personal values and taking meaningful actions towards important goals.
Narrative Therapy
Narrative approaches explore the stories people develop about themselves and their experiences.
They may help children separate their identity from difficulties and develop alternative perspectives.
Systemic & Family-Based Approaches
Systemic approaches consider relationships, family patterns, communication and wider environments.
Support may involve parents/carers or family members where appropriate.
EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a structured psychological therapy that may be used for trauma-related difficulties.
EMDR is only provided where clinically appropriate by a practitioner with suitable specialist training.
DBT-Informed Approaches
Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills and DBT-informed approaches may help with emotional regulation, distress tolerance, relationships and managing intense emotions.
The suitability of these approaches depends on individual clinical needs and practitioner competencies.
Not all therapies or therapeutic models will be available from every Lycali practitioner.
The clinician will discuss an appropriate model based on assessment findings, professional training, clinical evidence and individual needs.
Where a different type of support is indicated, suitable alternatives or onward referrals can be considered.
Ongoing Therapy Sessions
If therapy is recommended, sessions will be planned around your child's individual needs, therapeutic goals and preferences.
Therapy is collaborative, strengths-based and adapted to your child's developmental and communication profile.
- Understanding thoughts and emotions.
- Managing anxiety and worries.
- Improving confidence and self-esteem.
- Developing emotional regulation strategies.
- Understanding triggers and stress responses.
- Managing transitions and change.
- Exploring identity and self-understanding.
- Supporting neurodivergent experiences.
- Friendships, relationships and communication.
- Building coping and problem-solving skills.
- Processing difficult experiences where clinically appropriate.
- Developing practical strategies for everyday life.
The number and frequency of therapy sessions will depend on your child's needs, goals and the agreed treatment plan.
The practitioner may initially recommend a block of sessions, followed by a review of progress.
Any additional sessions and associated fees will be discussed before booking.
Progress Review & Next Steps
Therapy progress will be reviewed collaboratively throughout the agreed support period.
Reviews help the practitioner and family consider whether the support is meeting your child's needs and whether the approach should be adapted.
- Reviewing therapeutic goals.
- Discussing changes in emotional wellbeing.
- Identifying helpful coping strategies.
- Reviewing confidence and everyday participation.
- Considering parent/carer observations where appropriate.
- Reviewing outcome measures.
- Identifying remaining difficulties.
- Planning further therapy or discharge where appropriate.
Where clinically appropriate, the practitioner may recommend additional therapy, a different therapeutic approach, multidisciplinary support or onward referral.
A formal written report is not automatically included in every counselling or therapy arrangement.
If a written summary or report is required, please discuss this with Lycali in advance.
Any applicable report-writing charges will be confirmed before the work is undertaken.
Therapy Fees & Additional Charges (If They Apply)
The cost of your child's therapeutic assessment and ongoing sessions will be confirmed before booking and outlined in your invoice.
Fees may vary depending on the practitioner, appointment type and agreed therapeutic service.
Some appointments may involve additional travel or external clinic hire costs.
These charges do not apply to every appointment.
They may apply where a practitioner needs to travel or external clinic space is required away from Lycali's main Broadstairs base.
If additional charges apply, they will be confirmed before booking and clearly outlined in your invoice.
Any separately requested written reports or additional professional work will also be discussed and agreed in advance.
Cancellation & Non-Attendance Policy
Lycali operates a 24-hour cancellation policy for booked therapeutic assessment and therapy sessions.
Please notify Lycali as early as possible if your child cannot attend a scheduled appointment.
At Least 24 Hours' Notice
Please provide at least 24 hours' notice if you need to cancel or rearrange a booked appointment.
The full late-cancellation charge will not apply where sufficient notice is given.
Less Than 24 Hours' Notice
Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice are chargeable at the full booked session rate.
Did Not Attend (DNA)
If a scheduled appointment is missed without cancellation, it will be recorded as a Did Not Attend.
DNA appointments are charged at the full booked session rate.
How to Cancel
Please contact Lycali's administration team as soon as you know an appointment cannot go ahead.
Email: info@lycali.co.uk
Please refer to your welcome letter and terms and conditions for full cancellation arrangements, including any applicable statutory rights.
Useful Links & Information
Explore our wider multidisciplinary support services, practitioners, appointment locations and fees.
Need Support?
If you have questions about registration, consent, questionnaires, practitioner selection, therapy arrangements or fees, please contact Lycali.
If you experience difficulty accessing questionnaires issued through WriteUpp, or would like a copy of submitted responses, our administration team can help.
Email: info@lycali.co.uk
Website: www.lycali.co.uk
All required registration, consent and pre-session questionnaires must be completed before any therapeutic assessment or therapy session can take place.
All required questionnaires will be issued through WriteUpp. Please allow sufficient uninterrupted time to complete them in one sitting, as they cannot be saved part-way through or resubmitted.
Please review your appointment confirmation, invoice, any additional charges (if they apply) and cancellation policy before attending.