Child & Family Psychology
Specialist psychological support .
When you’re worried about your child
When your child is struggling, it can affect almost every part of family life. You might find yourself constantly worrying, questioning your decisions or wondering why the things you’ve tried haven’t worked. Sometimes you know something isn’t right, but neither you nor your child can explain exactly what it is.
Perhaps they’ve become anxious, withdrawn or angry. Maybe school, friendships or family relationships are increasingly difficult. You may be wondering whether this is a phase, whether you should intervene or what kind of help would make a difference.
I’m Luisa, a psychologist with 27 years’ experience. I trained in forensic psychology and have worked across specialist settings with people facing complex emotional, behavioural and relational difficulties. I bring that depth of psychological understanding to my work with children, young people and families.
Your child doesn’t have to be ready for therapy for us to begin. I work directly with you to understand what is happening and how best to respond; sensitively, relationally, and practically to illicit meaningful change.
‘Discuss your concerns with me, explore how I can help and consider the next steps, including signposting to other services where appropriate. There’s no commitment to proceed.
Looking beyond the behaviour
Anxiety can look like anger. Low confidence can appear as defiance. A young person who withdraws may be overwhelmed rather than indifferent. I’m interested in why a response makes sense for this particular child, even when it has become difficult for everyone around them.
Rather than simply asking how to stop a behaviour, I want to understand why it’s happening, what purpose it may be serving and what is keeping it going. I consider development, temperament, experiences, relationships, school and family circumstances. This individual psychological understanding — or formulation — helps us choose approaches that are more likely to be useful than a one-size-fits-all solution.
How I can help
I work with children, teenagers and families experiencing:
- Anxiety, panic, fears and excessive worry
- Low mood, withdrawal, confidence and self-esteem difficulties
- Anger, emotional regulation and behavioural challenges
- Trauma, grief, loss and difficult life experiences
- ADHD, autism and associated emotional or relational challenges
- School anxiety, bullying and friendship difficulties
- Family conflict, separation and changes in family life
- Obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours and perfectionism
- Attachment, trust, identity and relationship difficulties
Not every difficulty fits neatly into a diagnosis. Sometimes several things are happening at once; understanding how they connect is part of the work.
Support at different ages
Younger children. Distress may emerge through changes in behaviour, sleep, separation, play or relationships. Work often begins with parents and is adapted to the child’s developmental stage.
Middle childhood and tweens. Friendships, school demands, confidence and emotional regulation can become increasingly complicated as children develop greater independence.
Teenagers and young adults. Identity, relationships, anxiety, low mood and family conflict may come to the fore. I respect a young person’s growing autonomy while considering appropriate parental involvement.
Working with parents and families
Sometimes the most helpful starting point is with the adults. Parents can become caught in exhausting cycles of reassurance, conflict, worry or attempts to manage behaviour. Family members may respond differently to the same problem, despite everyone’s best intentions.
I help parents and families recognise these patterns, understand one another’s perspectives and find more helpful ways of responding. This is not about blame. It is about understanding what can change.
What we’re working towards
Our goals might include helping a child feel more secure and confident, reducing anxiety and distress, improving emotional regulation, rebuilding communication or helping parents feel clearer and more effective in their responses. We agree priorities together and review what is changing, rather than promising a particular outcome.
A straightforward first conversation about what is happening and whether I’m the right psychologist to help.
My experience and approach
My professional background began in forensic psychology in 1999, where I developed a particular interest in understanding complex behaviour and the experiences that shape it. This continues to inform my work with children, young people and families, bringing depth and careful psychological understanding to even the most challenging circumstances.
I draw on evidence-based psychological approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), DBT-informed strategies and family and systemic approaches. The choice depends on the child’s age, needs and circumstances. I don’t start with a preferred therapy model and expect everyone to fit it.
I aim to be warm, thoughtful and direct. I listen carefully, but I also help make connections and offer a psychological perspective when that is useful.
What happens at the Consultation?
The first step is a free 15-we discuss your concerns, answer any questions and consider how I may be able to help. Where appropriate, I can also provide signposting to alternative services.
If you choose to proceed, we’ll agree on the most appropriate starting point, whether that involves meeting with a parent, the child or other family members.
Children and young people are supported at their own pace, without pressure to discuss difficult experiences before they feel ready. Their involvement, privacy and consent are carefully considered in accordance with their age and level of understanding.’
Appointments
I offer appointments in Morpeth, Northumberland and online across the UK. The suitability of remote work with a child depends on their age and individual needs; parent consultations can often take place online.
You don’t need all the answers before asking for help
Whether you’ve been concerned for months or something has happened recently, we can begin by talking about what you’ve noticed and what might help.
Speak to me directly for 15 minutes, free of charge and with no obligation to proceed.
Telephone: 07801 079555 | Email: luisa@myfamilypsychologist.com