JD Therapeutic Services

JD Therapeutic Services Jannelle Dawson
Cognitive Behavioural Therapist
Supporting children, young adults and families

To every Year 11 and Year 13 student... congratulations. 🎉 You did it. Whether you walked out of your final exam feeling...
29/06/2026

To every Year 11 and Year 13 student... congratulations. 🎉

You did it.

Whether you walked out of your final exam feeling relieved, proud, disappointed, exhausted or simply numb, you made it through one of the most demanding periods of your education.
And to the parents and carers... well done to you too!

Exam season rarely affects just the young person. It often impacts the whole family - the early mornings, the late-night revision, the emotional ups and downs, the constant worry and the pressure everyone seems to feel.

Now comes the part that many people forget is just as important: taking a break. Give your chilf and yourself permission to enjoy your the summer without the focus being *entirely* on next steps!

For some young people, exams can also act as a distraction from other struggles. Once they're over, anxiety, low mood or worries they've been pushing aside can suddenly feel much louder. Others may find the transition itself brings uncertainty about college, sixth form, university, apprenticeships or work.

If that's you or your child, you're not alone.
The summer can be an ideal time to access support. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) can help young people develop practical strategies, build confidence and manage anxiety before the fresh start that September brings.

You don't have to wait until things feel unmanageable.

If you'd like to explore how I can support your young person before the new school year begins, get in touch via the link in my bio to book a free consultation today.

Jannelle 💜

As International Men's Health Week draws to a close, I want to talk about something I see misunderstood, particularly in...
19/06/2026

As International Men's Health Week draws to a close, I want to talk about something I see misunderstood, particularly in boys, all the time - anger.

When a teacher, a parent or a young person themselves tells me they have 'anger/anger management' issues, my first question is always: But what's underneath the anger?

The Anger Iceberg is a helpful way of understanding this. Anger is often the part we can see, but beneath the surface there may be sadness, shame, anxiety, embarrassment, disappointment, grief, loneliness, helplessness or feeling overwhelmed.

Research and clinical experience suggest that anger can act as a secondary emotion — a way of protecting us from emotions that feel more vulnerable or difficult to express. For many boys and men especially, societal expectations around masculinity can make it feel safer to show anger than fear, sadness, hurt or shame.

This doesn't mean anger is 'bad'. Anger is a normal human emotion and serves a purpose in the fight/flight/freeze system that keeps us alive. The problem comes when we focus only on stopping the angry behaviour without understanding what is beneath it and miss the opportunity to address this.

Effective support isn't simply teaching someone to suppress anger or count to ten. It's helping them recognise triggers, understand the thoughts behind their reactions, identify the emotions underneath, and develop healthier ways of expressing what they need.

This is where CBT can really help. Rather than just focusing on the anger itself, we work together to understand the patterns that keep it going and build skills for managing the underlying emotions more effectively. Without this, these expressions of anger often become worse.

Whether you're a parent worried about your child's or teens angry outbursts, or you're a young man who recognises yourself in this post, remember the anger iceberg, take a step back and try to work out what might be going on underneath the surface. 

If you or your child are struggling with expressions of anger and would like support, feel free to reach out to arrange a free consultation via the link in my bio or send a DM.

Jannelle 💜

This week is International Men’s Health Week (15–21 June) — a chance to shine a light on the health and wellbeing of men...
15/06/2026

This week is International Men’s Health Week (15–21 June) — a chance to shine a light on the health and wellbeing of men and boys, including something that still doesn’t get talked about enough: mental health.

The statistics remain concerning. Around three-quarters of su***des in England and Wales are male, and su***de remains the leading cause of death for men under 50. Men are also significantly less likely to access psychological support or seek help when they’re struggling.

Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of supporting many boys, young men and fathers through difficult periods in their lives. One thing I’ve learned is that emotional distress doesn’t always look the way people expect it to.

For boys and men, anxiety, low mood, overwhelm and emotional pain can often show up through behaviour rather than words. Irritability. Withdrawal. Risk-taking. Defiance. Difficulty concentrating. Increased conflict at home. Anger issues.

This is one reason why I dislike the term anger issues. Anger is usually not the problem.
Anger is often just the one that made it to the surface. Beneath it, there may be anxiety, shame, grief, loneliness, stress, low self-worth or experiences that haven’t felt safe to talk about.

This is also why fathers, brothers, uncles and other male role models matter so much. When boys see trusted men expressing emotions, asking for help and talking openly about mental health, they learn that strength isn’t about staying silent. I’ll post a video about this tomorrow!

For today, whether you’re a parent worried about your son, a father carrying more than anyone realises, or a young man finding life harder than expected, support is available.

You don’t have to wait until things reach crisis point.

If you would like support for yourself, your child or your family, please get in touch via the link in my bio to arrange a free consultation.

Happy Friday! Swipe to see some feedback from a few of the kids and parents I’ve worked with.Collecting feedback is a bi...
12/06/2026

Happy Friday! Swipe to see some feedback from a few of the kids and parents I’ve worked with.

Collecting feedback is a big part of what I do and my commitment to continuing to improve the service.

Reading words like these always serves as a powerful reminder of why I do what I do; supporting young people through tough times and seeing them grow is a real privilege.

If you think your child might benefit from speaking to a therapist, book a free consultation via the link in my bio. We’ll figure it out together.

Jannelle 💜

Quick midweek reminder from for all the young people still completing national exams, about to start end of year exams ...
11/06/2026

Quick midweek reminder from for all the young people still completing national exams, about to start end of year exams and their parents!

You've got this! 💪

Jannelle 💜

We all know that setting and maintaining boundaries around technology and social media is often much easier in theory th...
09/06/2026

We all know that setting and maintaining boundaries around technology and social media is often much easier in theory than it is in practice – both for ourselves and our young people.

You know they need sleep, downtime and a break from scrolling (and so do they!). But also, ‘everyone else is allowed’ their phone in their bedroom, on social media until midnight, or on that app you’ve never even heard of.
Then it’s the back and forth and battles that make it not seem worth it.

Many of the parents I work with are struggling with this because parenting in the digital age is genuinely hard. There’s no guidebook for managing Snapchat streaks, group chats, TikTok trends and smartphones that never leave your child’s side.

At the same time, avoiding the conversation isn’t the answer.
Young people need us to stay engaged and informed about what’s going on online. They need boundaries, even when they argue against them. They need guidance, even when they insist they know better or need complete privacy.

The good news? Technology and social media aren’t inherently ‘good’ or ‘bad’. For most young people, the solution isn’t to ban everything or take access away entirely. The real goal is to help young people learn how to use technology in a way that supports, rather than harms, their wellbeing.

That usually starts with open conversations, realistic boundaries, regular check-ins and a healthy dose of consistency from us as parents.

In this post, I’ve shared some practical ways to approach technology and social media. For further support, I recommend the following organisations:


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They all offer excellent resources and guidance for parents and young people navigating the online world.
And if technology, social media, anxiety, low mood or family conflict are becoming a significant source of stress at home, you’re not alone.
Book your free consultation via the link in my bio or send me a DM to explore tailored mental health support for your child, young person or family.

I've survived my social media detox… and honestly, it was needed!If you've noticed I've not posted for a while, that's b...
08/06/2026

I've survived my social media detox… and honestly, it was needed!

If you've noticed I've not posted for a while, that's because I stepped away from both my personal and professional accounts for the past week.

As someone who spends a lot of time online for work (I literally do all of my work online!), it's easy to underestimate the impact social media can have on our wellbeing. Even as a therapist, I'm not immune to the pressure, the constant stream of information, or the temptation to compare myself to others in my profession.

Taking a break gave me the chance to reconnect with what matters most. Instead of scrolling or obsessing about my next post, I spent more time with family, enjoyed some much-needed rest, completed some training, worked on other projects, and simply allowed myself to be more present in the moment.

The truth is, social media can affect all of us adults, teenagers and children alike. While it can be a fantastic source of connection, creativity and support, it can also fuel self-comparison, increase anxiety, create unrealistic expectations and leave us feeling like we're somehow falling behind.

A full detox isn't always realistic (or desirable) for everyone. If that feels like too much, there are smaller changes that can still make a big difference:

📱 Turn off non-essential notifications
🧹 Unfollow or mute accounts that leave you feeling drained, inadequate or upset
⏰ Set time limits for apps
❤️ Be intentional about who and what you engage with
⚙️ Use platform tools to curate a healthier algorithm and see more content that genuinely adds value

Sometimes protecting your mental health isn't about adding more - it's about creating a little more space.

If you're a parent and you're concerned about the impact social media may be having on your child's mental health, self-esteem or anxiety levels, you're not overreacting. Support is available, and early conversations can make a real difference.

📩 Book your free consultation via the link in my bio and explore how tailored mental health support could help your young person and your family.

Over the past few years in my role, I’ve seen the rise in Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) with the young peopl...
29/05/2026

Over the past few years in my role, I’ve seen the rise in Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) with the young people and families I work with so here’s a brief introduction to help raise awareness.

EBSA was present before the pandemic, but afterwards, I saw first-hand the significant increase in young people struggling to attend school and the impact this had on entire families.

I’ve worked with many families navigating this challenge, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this that there’s no one-size-fits-all solution.

Every young person is different. Every family is different. The reasons behind school avoidance are different - more often than not it’s a combination of factors - and the solutions have to be too. What works brilliantly for one family may be completely wrong for another.

That’s why early intervention matters so much. The longer difficulties continue, the more entrenched the cycle of anxiety and avoidance can become and the bigger impact on their overall wellbeing.

Seeking support early doesn’t mean you’re overreacting. It means you’re responding to what your child is communicating before things become even harder.

Parents need early support too. Many parents I meet feel exhausted, frustrated, guilty, worried or judged. Having space to understand what’s happening and explore options matters.

My approach is always tailored to both the individual young person and the wider family system. Together, we explore what’s driving the difficulties and develop realistic strategies that fit your family’s circumstances and goals.

For some families, it’s about supporting your child to gradually improve their attendance. For others it’s about rebuilding confidence, reducing distress and/or finding a different pathway that better meets a young person’s needs.

If your child is struggling with school attendance and you’re not sure where to start, you’re welcome to book a free consultation via the link in my bio. Let’s explore what support might help.

Jannelle 💜

27/05/2026

I could have hiked this mountain. In fact, that was the plan. Instead, I chose to be driven up. Why? Because I wasn’t feeling 100% and I knew how much I'd struggle (turns out it was the beginnings of a chest infection!). And do you know what? I still deserved the view.

Making that decision on my recent break made me think about how often parents and young people feel pressured to do things the 'right' way. Push harder. Try harder. Just be more disciplined. More resilient. More organised. Etc. Etc.

There's nothing inherently wrong with that but sometimes we can't. Sometimes we're struggling. Sometimes:

🔸️you're struggling to get your child into school in the morning
🔸️you're struggling to support big emotions and meltdowns in your younger child
🔸️you don't have the energy to revise 'enough' during half-term
🔸️you've tried all the strategies but you still can't seem to manage your anxiety

In these moments, finding a way to make the hard things manageable *is* the achievement. That's what means you've tried. And if you need support for that, reaching out is always the best thing to do. Asking for support instead of forcing yourselves through is always the better option.

None of that makes you weak or a bad parent. And none of that means a young person is 'lazy', 'difficult' or 'attention-seeking'.

People will always have opinions about things they’ve never lived through but they don’t know your family, your capacity, your child’s needs or how hard you’re already trying behind closed doors.

So this is your reminder that struggling is allowed. Support is allowed. Adjustments are allowed. Taking the easier route is allowed.

You still deserve the view.

If your family needs support navigating the hard seasons, my DMs are open and consultations can be booked via the link in my bio,

Jannelle 💜

I've been back at work for one day and my laptop (and brain!) already looks like this: 17(00) tabs open, inbox climbing,...
26/05/2026

I've been back at work for one day and my laptop (and brain!) already looks like this: 17(00) tabs open, inbox climbing, calendar full and me desperately pretending I’m coping in this heat 🫠

I’ve loved taking some time off, but the transition back into 'real life' can feel a bit brutal sometimes. And honestly? I know so many parents are feeling exactly the same right now too. Half-term often means trying to juggle work, childcare arrangements, half-term entertainment and the general chaos of keeping everything going.

At the same time, lots of young people are getting a small break from exams and running on empty after weeks (or months) of pressure, stress and adrenaline. Trying to choose between more and more revision and taking a well-deserved break.

So this is your reminder (and mine!):
🔹️You do not have to do everything perfectly
🔹️You are allowed to rest if you haven't 'finished'
🔹️You are allowed to slow down in the heat
🔹️You are allowed to say 'this is a lot'
🔹️And your best, whatever it looks like, is enough.

Take the breaks. Drink the water. Close a tab or two if you can. Ask for help where possible. Speak to yourself with the same compassion you’d offer everyone else.

If your young person is struggling emotionally, overwhelmed, anxious or burnt out, I’m currently taking on new clients. Reach out via DM or book a free consultation through the link in my bio

Jannelle 💜

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