Claudia Maschi MBACP PGDip

A few words about myself

I am a qualified integrative children's counsellor/therapist and a registered member of the BACP, offering in person therapeutic sessions to children and adolescents. I have specialised as a children/adolescent counsellor/therapist as I am passionate about early intervention, understanding that if any social/emotional challenge big or small is addressed early it will prevent and help manage mental health conditions and difficulties throughout the lifespan.

We all wish for our children to thrive and live life to their full potential. Difficulties however may arise in life which may lead to children/adolescents struggling with day-to-day, experiencing overwhelm and worries they are unable to manage. This may be due to a traumatic event, changes within the family unit, loss of a loved one, challenges due to being neurodivergent and/or the impact of the demands of school and the environment. At times it may be a combination of challenges which even the child or caregiver may not understand the root of.

Parenting can be tough and at times seeking support from a counsellor may provide the child with a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space to enable her/him to process worries, make sense of them and provide tools to develop healthy coping strategies, build resilience and find ways to get through these challenges.

My philosophy and style is underpinned by child development, systemic thinking and psychodynamic theory, using the core values of a person-centred approach, informed by attachment theory and neuroscience. 

I recognise that each child may enter therapy with their unique needs and experiences, hence the value in an integrative approach to draw on a number of theoretical schools of thought to inform my work. My work is child-centred and I believe that at the core of any positive change lies the therapeutic relationship and the belief that the child has the capacity within himself/herself/themselves to create positive change, if provided with the appropriate conditions of trust, safety, unconditional positive regard and warmth in a non-judgmental environment.

I believe in working creatively, at the pace of the child, respecting their processes and choice of expression. In the one-to-one in person sessions, I will have creative materials available such as sand-tray, clay, art materials, paints, games and toys...etc. When appropriate I may use Cognitive Behavioural Therapies, Solution focused approaches as well as psycho-education. 

Apart from my private practice, I work in schools providing one-to-one counselling to children and adolescents as well as supporting school staff and parents.  Organisations I have worked in include the mental health charity Place2Be.

I have particular experience in the following areas:

• Abuse
• Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder
• Anxiety
• Autism Spectrum
• Bereavement
• Depression
• Developmental/Relational Trauma
• Eating Disorders
• Emotional Regulation
• Health Related Issues
• Identity Issues
• Loss
• Low-mood
• Low self-esteem
• Relationships and peer related issues
• Self esteem
• Self-harm
• Sexual identity
• Sexuality
• Social Anxiety

 

How it works:

If you are a parent/carer looking for a therapist for your child, I recommend we have an initial session on the phone or via Zoom where we can meet and where you can explain your child’s needs and why you are seeking therapy now for your child. This session will be around 30 Minutes and will be free of charge. It is also an opportunity to ask me any questions and share any worries you may have. If you are happy with the process and believe that I may be a good fit for your child, we can arrange a time and day to meet with your child.

Sessions are 50 Minutes and run every week on the same agreed day and time. 

I will have sand, clay, toys, games and arts materials available for your child/teen, understanding the value of play and creativity to help process feelings and to make sense of the child’s internal landscape. 

After the 6th session, I would recommend a review with yourself and your child/adolescent to review how things are going, what's working and what may not be working. This will be a good opportunity to review how many more sessions we may need/want or if another review may be best at a later stage. 

If you have any questions or would like to book a session, please do not hesitate to contact me via my mobile or e-mail; or take a look at my website where you can fill in an enquiry form. I endeavour to get back to you within 24hours.

Call:  07775-774671

E-mail:  claudia@cm-therapy.com

Website:  www.cm-therapy.com