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Service criteria

Information on the referral criteria for children and young people's counselling.

We try to work with everyone that comes to us for help managing a difficult relationship with themselves or another person.

There may be instances where an individual’s needs can be better met by another service or another organisation.

TLC is open to everyone regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation. There are instances where we are the best service provider for a particular individual, but if we think a client’s needs may be best met elsewhere, we’re happy to aid their journey towards finding support from another organisation.

We have particular criteria for children and young people seeking counselling. Please see below for more information.

Children and young people's counselling

We generally work with children and young people aged 5 to 18.

We also work with young people up to age 25 if they have an ECHP or are “looked after” by a local authority.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer help to children and young people in a current mental health crisis that would require emergency support, assistance and care to prevent an acute and immediate risk to their life.

We offer short-term counselling services utilising whatever approach is best suited to a young person’s needs.

We work at the Getting Advice and Getting Help Levels of THRIVE, in between universal services and Specialist CAMHS services.

We follow a needs-based approach based on what is driving the young person’s difficulties. We provide access the right evidenced-based approach at the right time.   

We offer a blended service delivery of face-to-face and virtual support.

If a child or young person is having difficulties with:

  • Anxiety, low mood, anger, stress and difficulty managing overwhelming emotions
  • Extended difficulties adapting to changes in life circumstances (e.g. managing transition, parental separation, bereavement)
  • Difficulty relating to or maintaining communication with others
  • Conflict at home including witnessed and or experienced domestic abuse
  • Issues with parent, sibling, peers, partner or teacher relationships
  • School based worries (e.g. exam stress, academic pressure)
  • The emotional impact of bullying if it has been addressed
  • Issues relating to gender identity or sexuality
  • Self-injury where the risk is managed

If a child or young person is:

  • Unwilling to engage or does not give consent for counselling  
  • Unsuitable for short-term intervention due to complexities in presentation
  • Exhibiting self-harm and suicidal ideation, if the risk is unmanaged and the person cannot suitably be placed on a waiting list
  • Currently accessing or on a waiting list for other psychological or counselling interventions, if these interventions better suit their need
  • Presenting lower-level emerging needs and could be supported by universal services
  • Exhibiting substance misuse as their primary presenting difficulty 
  • Exhibiting an eating disorder, if this is the primary presenting difficulty 
  • In need of an assessment for ADHD or autism and this is the primary reason for their referral 
  • Presenting with complex and enduring sexually harmful behaviour
  • In need of gender identity support from specialist services 

More about our services

A full list of programmes on offer, more information on how we process referrals, and our contact details.

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Referrals

More information on the principles that govern our referral process.

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Contact us

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