Julie Elston Therapeutic Services

My training and experience have given me an in-depth knowledge of child development with an understanding of theories of neuroscience and how early life trauma can affect the developing brain. 

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I use a range of assessment tools for children and young people where required (these include SDQ, CORE, ACA and ACC).

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The services I provide to children and young people include:

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Child and young person counselling
 

Support for families, parents and carers in order to sustain placements, build and strengthen family relationships through joint and individual work.

This may include:
 

• Explore the use of relationship building exercises as well as discussion and reflection on relationship issues to fit specific family needs
   

• Agree on goals, facilitate and reassess change and monitor progress
   

• To help in negotiating safe boundaries
   

• Provide families with a greater understanding of child development and identity by exploring with them the understanding gleaned from a range of research papers

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I work holistically with children and young people drawing on a wide range of therapeutic techniques including:

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• Cognitive behavioural therapy

• Person centred approach

• Family therapy

• Psychodynamic therapy

• Theraplay techniques

• Rewind technique

• Solution focused brief therapy

 

More information on types of techniques can be found on the BACP website. 

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Holistic Picture Assessment

A Holistic Picture provides a clear description of a child, young person’s developmental level, the resultant behaviour tendencies and behavioural management strategies.

This is a particularly informative, constructive and effective multi agency tool, which can be made accessible to and shared between parents, schools and any other relevant agency working with the child and family.
 

Life Story Work

It has long been my understanding that there is a need to provide looked after children and young people with a good quality, accurate and meaningful record of their life and experience through life story work/books. Visit my Life Story Work page for detailed information on the services I provide and my model for working with a child/young person on their life story.

 

I have set up counselling services and worked as a counsellor in several Kent schools and academies where I have led on working with emotional issues that impact on children’s education and wellbeing. For five years’ I was employed as a Therapeutic Care Manager responsible for assessing, delivering and evaluating therapeutic interventions with looked after young people where I gained extensive experience of working with abused, exploited and at-risk young people within the looked after system.

 

I have an appreciation of the complexity of ethical issues and boundaries when working with children. I aim to balance confidentiality but also offer some transparency with regard to the limits of confidentiality when sharing information with parents or carers, with social workers or teachers. I have knowledge of safeguarding and child protection procedures.

 

My therapeutic approaches differ between those used with children and young people and those with adults as adults will normally voluntarily present themselves for counselling whilst a child or young person very often is ‘sent for counselling’. Children will rarely ask for counselling and may be very resistant to the idea. I find that young children especially respond better to techniques that are more indirect. Sitting in a chair opposite a young child asking questions could feel quite threatening so when working with children my therapy room is set out differently often utilising coloured pens, sand, play dough, work sheets, therapeutic games etc.

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Location & Fees

I can offer either short or long term therapy dependent on need. Our sessions would normally be weekly and would last for 50mins. I can provide daytime and evening appointments.

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My practice is in Penmaenmawr, North Wales. I am situated a 15 minute walk from Penmaenmawr Station. There is adequate driveway parking outside my practice if needed.

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Please contact me for my fees. I offer a reduced fee to trainee counsellors.

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