Being a teenager isn't easy. School, friendships, family, and the pressure to have it all figured out can feel like a lot to carry.

I'm Jane, a qualified counsellor in central Exeter, and I now offer counselling for young people aged 14–18. I give teenagers a safe, calm space to talk honestly with someone who listens without judging and won't tell them what to do.

For teenagers

If things feel like a lot right now, you don't have to figure it out on your own.

Maybe you're feeling anxious, or low, or just not like yourself. Maybe something happened that you can't stop thinking about, or maybe you're not even sure what's wrong — you just know things feel harder than they should.

Talking to a counsellor isn't the same as talking to a parent, a teacher, or a friend. I'm not here to judge you, tell you off, or tell you what to do. I'm just here to listen, and to help you work things out at your own pace.

For parents and carers

You know your teenager better than anyone — and you can tell when something isn't right.

Maybe they've become quieter, or more irritable. Maybe they're anxious about school, struggling with friendships, or spending more time alone than they used to. It's natural to worry, and it's natural to feel unsure about how to help.

Sometimes a young person finds it easier to open up to someone outside the family — someone neutral, who isn't going to be upset or worried by what they say. That's where counselling can help.

I offer your teenager a confidential space to talk through whatever is on their mind, at their own pace. I don't push, and I don't judge. My approach is person-centred, which means I follow their lead and help them make sense of how they're feeling, rather than telling them what to do.

I have experience supporting young people with:

• Anxiety, worry, and low mood

• ADHD and Autism

• Stress around school and exams

• Friendships and feeling like they don't fit in

• Confidence and self-esteem

• Big changes at home or in the family

• Understanding and expressing difficult feelings

A quick word on confidentiality

For counselling to work, your teenager needs to trust that what they share stays private. At the same time, you'll understandably want to know they're safe. In our first conversation I'll explain how confidentiality works — what stays between us, and the few situations where I'd need to share something to keep them safe.