Play Therapy

Children don’t always have the words to explain emotions. Feelings can be complex and abstract making talking therapies challenging. Play is the universal language of our children. With the support of a play therapist, we offer a selection of resources and a safe confidential space to play, make and do.

Play therapy is a form of counselling accessible to our youngest children.

Although we tend to associate play therapy with our younger children this is not exclusively so. Play and creativity can be effective for emotional exploration at any stage.

Our children do not exist in isolation and either do their challenges. At The Counselling House we take a holistic approach to the support we offer. The networks surrounding our children including family and school can be part of the therapeutic process.

With curiosity and compassion we can take time to think about this together. We think about the ongoing support between and beyond the counselling room recognising that regulated adults nurture the wellbeing of the children and young people they care for.

Through the use of play and creativity children are offered the opportunity to express their feelings, solve problems, heal and grow.

Parent and Families Service

At The Counselling House, we understand that when children and young people experience challenges, it can affect the whole family. Parents and carers often find themselves carrying worry, confusion, guilt, or frustration, sometimes all at once. Our Parent and Family Counselling Service exists to support you by offering a calm, compassionate space that is safe and confidential.

Our approach is non-judgemental and grounded in the belief that relationships are at the heart of emotional wellbeing. We focus on how connection, communication and emotional safety can be strengthened.

Parents can often feel unsure about their role when their child or young person is experiencing difficulties - wanting to help but not always knowing how.

You may be holding difficult feelings while also trying to stay strong for your child. We offer a space where you can talk openly about what this is like, ask questions, and reflect on your own experiences, without fear of being judged or criticised.

We are not here to tell you how to parent, but to help you find ways forward that feel realistic and supportive for your family.

Whether you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, worried, or simply wanting to better understand your child and yourself, you are welcome here.

Our aim is to help families feel more connected and more confident.

Young People

Counselling provides vital support to young people, helping them to navigate and overcome a range of developmental challenges, psychological barriers, and traumatic experiences.

At the Counselling House, young people are welcomed into a non-judgemental, therapeutic environment, where their well-being is prioritised and their personal goals are at the heart of the therapeutic process.

We offer free to access, confidential one-to-one therapeutic counselling to young people aged 12 to 24 years of age living in the North-East of Scotland.

After an initial assessment appointment has taken place, the young person is added to our waiting list for ongoing therapeutic counselling. Waiting times for sessions are determined by the availability of the young person. Everyone is offered up to 12 weekly counselling sessions.

Referrals are welcomed directly from young people themselves, as well as from family members or professionals involved in their lives, provided that the young person has given permission for the referral to be made.

Through therapy, the young person can cultivate self-confidence, deepen their understanding of themselves, and develop greater resilience.