Alder Barn Therapy

26/08/2026

A beautiful soul who taught us how to be and leaves a legacy for us all. RIP Dolly, and thank you. 💔

10/07/2026

One of the gifts of getting older is you worry less about what people think. You only get one life!

07/06/2026

“Would you know what questions to ask before choosing a therapist for your child?”

Not all emotional support is the same, and as a parent, it’s important to understand the difference between a fully qualified counsellor and someone who is simply trained in an approach such as Thrive or is described as trauma-informed.

Thrive training and trauma-informed practice can provide valuable tools for understanding children’s behaviour and emotional needs. These approaches help adults create supportive environments and build positive relationships with children.

However, they are not the same as professional counselling qualifications.

A qualified counsellor has completed extensive therapeutic training, works within a recognised ethical framework, receives regular clinical supervision, and is trained to assess and support a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties.

When looking for a therapist for your child, don’t be afraid to ask questions such as:

✔ What counselling qualifications do you hold?
✔ Are you registered with a professional body?
✔ Do you receive regular clinical supervision?
✔ What experience do you have working with children and young people?
✔ What approach do you use in therapy?
✔ How do you assess whether counselling is the right support for my child?
✔ How do you manage safeguarding concerns?

These questions aren’t about challenging a professional—they’re about ensuring your child receives the most appropriate support for their needs.

Being trauma-informed or Thrive-trained can be a valuable addition to someone’s skill set, but it should not be confused with the training, accountability, and therapeutic expertise of a qualified counsellor.

Your child deserves support from someone with the right level of training for the challenges they are facing.

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06/06/2026

You want to find the right support for your child but you don’t understand the differences between qualifications…

When parents are looking for support for their child, it can be confusing to understand the difference between a fully qualified counsellor and someone who is trained in approaches such as Thrive or is described as trauma-informed.

A fully qualified counsellor has completed extensive professional training, works within a recognised ethical framework, receives regular clinical supervision, and is trained to assess, understand, and support a wide range of emotional and mental health difficulties. They are equipped to work with complex issues, including anxiety, trauma, bereavement, low self-esteem, behavioural challenges, and relationship difficulties.

In contrast, someone who is trained in the Thrive Approach or who has completed trauma-informed training has gained valuable knowledge and skills that can help them better support children within educational or care settings. These approaches can be incredibly beneficial in promoting emotional wellbeing, understanding behaviour, and creating supportive environments.

However, it’s important to recognise that being Thrive-trained or trauma-informed is not the same as being a qualified counsellor. These professionals are not typically trained to provide therapeutic counselling or to work in-depth with complex emotional or mental health concerns.

Think of it this way: trauma-informed and Thrive-trained practitioners can play a vital role in supporting a child’s emotional development, but when a child is experiencing significant emotional difficulties, specialist counselling may be the most appropriate level of support.

Every child is unique, and the right support depends on their individual needs. Understanding the difference helps parents make informed decisions and ensures children receive the help that is right for them.

05/05/2026

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce84e1vn1l2o

The rise of social media ‘experts’ is very worrying and potentially dangerous. So many people are not regulated. Some people will position and market themselves so well that it’s difficult to not believe them. The same is true for therapy. So I’m writing up a free check sheet for potential clients to ask questions from a therapist before committing. Watch this space 👀 🩷

The advice puts babies at risk of serious harm, even death, medical professionals have told the BBC.

10/04/2026

Are you a parent of young children?
Does this sound familiar?
You love them more than anything. So why does it feel this hard?

You chose gentle parenting because you want something different. You want to understand your child, not just manage them. You want connection, not control. You’ve read the books, you follow the accounts, you believe in it wholeheartedly.
And yet.
Some days you’re running on empty before 9am. Some days you raise your voice and the guilt hits immediately. Some days you’re so deep in the fog of just surviving that the parent you want to be feels like a stranger.
You’re not failing. You’re not broken. But something feels stuck — and you know it.
Maybe you’re carrying more than you let on. Old wounds from your own childhood that surface the moment your toddler melts down. A creeping anxiety you can’t quite name. The exhaustion of holding everyone together while quietly falling apart yourself.

Gentle parenting asks a lot of you — because it starts with you. And that’s exactly where we begin.

I work with young mums who are doing everything right and still feeling lost. Together, we create space for you — not just the mum, but the whole person underneath. We gently untangle what’s getting in the way, so that the parent you already are in your heart becomes the parent your children actually experience.

You don’t have to have it all figured out to begin. You just have to take one step.
You deserve support too. Let’s talk.
📍 alderbarntherapy.co.uk

08/04/2026

Feeling stuck? You’re not alone.
Maybe you’ve lost your sense of direction. Maybe getting out of bed feels harder than it should, or you’re not sure who you are or what you actually want anymore. Whatever’s going on, you don’t have to figure it out by yourself.

Phoebe is a qualified counsellor with a warm, non-judgmental approach — and she has availability on Friday afternoons.

Whether you’re navigating anxiety, low motivation, identity, or just a general feeling that something’s off, Phoebe offers a safe space to slow down, talk it through, and start making sense of things at your own pace.
She’s a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, holds a Diploma in Counselling Children and Young People, and has extensive experience working with neurodivergent clients. She has a particular interest in trauma — because sometimes what looks like “lack of motivation” runs a lot deeper than that.

🌿 Something a little different
Phoebe also offers Animal Assisted Therapy — a unique approach that many people find surprisingly powerful, especially if traditional talking therapy has ever felt a bit much.

Sessions take place in a Shepherds Hut tucked into the Somerset countryside, surrounded by woodland just outside Taunton. It’s quiet, it’s private, and it feels nothing like a clinical waiting room.

Your first chat is completely free. No commitment, no pressure — just a conversation to see if it feels right.
📞 07594 237557
📧 [email protected]
🌐 www.phoebewitherscounselling.co.uk
Friday afternoons available now.

30/03/2026

For 30 years, I’ve been the person families and schools turn to when a child is struggling.
As a specialist counsellor for children and young people, I’ve worked across every layer of the school and family system — as a counsellor, teacher, trainer, consultant and mum of four. I was among the first to bring counselling into schools in my area back in the 1990s, and I’ve been building on that foundation ever since.
I’m a qualified Rewind Practitioner, trained directly with David Muss, with extensive CPD in Complex Trauma. This means I can work effectively with children and young people carrying some of the heaviest burdens — not just day-to-day anxiety or low mood, but deeply rooted trauma that other approaches often miss.
I also bring something rare: I understand schools from the inside. As a fully qualified teacher who has worked across many different schools, I know how the system works, what it asks of children, and how to work with families and educators rather than around them.
For fellow therapists: With 25 years of supervision experience, I’ve helped many practitioners set up in private practice and attract clients quickly. If you’re looking for a supervisor who truly knows this specialist field — and can help your practice grow — I’d love to hear from you.
📍 Visit alderbarntherapy.co.uk or send me a DM to find out more.

18/03/2026

15/03/2026

Today is a day when most people will be thinking about their mothers, or being a mother. But it isn’t all flowers and chocolates, it can also bring up immense grief. So today we are remembering all women whatever your situation, we are thinking of you. 🩷💜❤️