Children, Adolescents & Young Adults

Assessments

I undertake assessments with children, adolescents and young adults.



I do a large number of assessments for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the latter in conjunction with a group of experienced colleagues.

There is currently a waiting time for these assessments.  Please contact me by email for more information.

Treatment

I offer treatment to adolescents and young adults (but not children).  This mostly takes the form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), with elements of psycho-dynamic approaches and also EMDR.

It is usually best if I meet parents alone for the first appointment, without the young person, as this allows us to have a straightforward discussion about their situation, and also gives parents the opportunity to judge whether I am the right person to work with their child.

Most treatment involves the young person meeting with me on a weekly or fortnightly basis for an agreed period of time.  I much prefer parents to remain in touch with me throughout the treatment, although this usually requires the young person's consent.

All people are different, as are the difficulties they face. I therefore tailor treatment to suit the specific needs of each person.  If at any stage I think a child’s interests would be better served by another professional – private or NHS – I would discuss this with both the young person and their parents.

Common Problems

Anxiety (eg. health, OCD, phobias, trauma, low confidence)
Depression and low mood
Problems with eating and sleeping
Relationship problems, including parents’ separation and divorce
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Autistic Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Murray Small
Consultant Clinical Psychologist