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Children, Teens & Families
When a child or teenager is struggling, it can affect the whole family. You may have noticed growing anxiety, distress, low mood, anger, withdrawal, school difficulties, family tension, or a sense that something has changed and you are not sure how best to help. Sometimes the concerns are recent and linked to a specific event. Sometimes they have been building for some time. In either case, it can be hard to know what is going on, what your child needs, and what kind of support is likely to help.
At Hampstead Psychology, we offer private psychological support for children, teenagers, and families in Hampstead, North London, and online across the UK and internationally. We also offer specialist assessments. Our approach is warm, thoughtful, and evidence-based, with care taken to understand the child or young person in the context of their development, relationships, school life, and family environment.
We know that seeking help for a child or teenager can feel emotional and high stakes. Parents often come to us because they want the best support possible and want to feel confident that their child is being seen by an experienced psychologist. We take care to think about the whole picture and to match each family with the psychologist best placed to help.
This page is for information and does not replace a clinical assessment, diagnosis, or medical advice.
When a child, teenager or family may need support
Many parents wait a while before seeking help. Sometimes this is because they hope things will improve on their own. Sometimes it is because they are unsure whether what they are seeing is simply part of development, stress, or a passing phase. Sometimes it is because family life is so busy that it is hard to stop and think clearly about what is happening.
But when a child, teenager, or family is struggling, early support can make a real difference. You may recognise some of the following:
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Your child seems more anxious, upset, or emotionally reactive than usual.
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Your teenager has become withdrawn, low, irritable, or difficult to reach.
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School attendance, friendships, or confidence have become harder.
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There are more emotional outbursts, tension, or conflict at home.
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Your child or teenager seems overwhelmed, stuck, or no longer like themselves.
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You are concerned about OCD, panic, health anxiety, neurodiversity, or another specialist difficulty.
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Family life feels increasingly shaped by worry, avoidance, stress, or misunderstanding.
If any of this feels familiar, it does not necessarily mean something is seriously wrong. It may mean that a pattern has developed that needs understanding and support.
How difficulties can show up
Children
Children may struggle with anxiety, fears, separation worries, school avoidance, emotional outbursts, low mood, sleep difficulties, friendship problems, behaviour changes, low confidence, obsessive worries, or the impact of a health condition or family stress. Younger children often communicate distress through behaviour rather than words, which can leave parents feeling uncertain about what is driving it.
Teenagers
Teenagers may present with anxiety, low mood, panic, OCD, stress, overwhelm, self-esteem difficulties, social struggles, school pressure, emotional withdrawal, irritability, family conflict, or a growing sense that they are not coping. Adolescence can be a particularly sensitive period, and difficulties can become hidden behind avoidance, perfectionism, anger, or shutting down.
Families
Sometimes the difficulty is not located in one person alone. Families may find themselves stuck in painful patterns of tension, misunderstanding, conflict, worry, or exhaustion. Parenting can become harder when a child or teenager is distressed, and even loving families can begin to feel overwhelmed by the pressure they are under. Family-focused work can help bring more understanding, clearer communication, and a more workable way forward.
What keeps children, teenagers and families stuck?
When a child or teenager is distressed, families naturally try to help. Parents may adapt routines, give extra reassurance, reduce demands, avoid certain situations, or work very hard to keep things calm. These responses are understandable and often come from love, care, and a wish to protect.
The difficulty is that, over time, some of these responses can unintentionally keep the problem going. Anxiety can grow when avoidance takes over. Conflict can intensify when everyone feels unheard or under pressure. A young person can become more stuck when they feel overwhelmed, misunderstood, or trapped in patterns they do not know how to change. Families can also begin to organise themselves around the difficulty in ways that make everyday life smaller, tenser, or more exhausting.
Support helps make sense of these patterns, understand what is maintaining them, and begin finding a more workable way forward.
See our other pages here: Child Therapy, Teen Therapy, Autism Assessment, Parenting Support, Family Support, Fees, Meet the Team, Contact.
How we can help
We offer support for children, teenagers, and families depending on the nature of the concern and what is likely to be most helpful.
This may include therapy for children experiencing anxiety, emotional or behavioural difficulties, school problems, or low confidence. It may include therapy for teenagers struggling with anxiety, low mood, OCD, panic, stress, identity, or relationship difficulties. It may include family-focused work where communication has become difficult or family life feels stuck. We also offer specialist autism assessments where families are looking for greater clarity and understanding.
Our aim is not simply to reduce distress in the short term, but to help children, young people, and families understand what is happening and move towards lasting change.
What to expect from sessions?
We begin by understanding the concerns carefully. That may involve meeting with parents first, meeting with the child or teenager directly, or thinking together about whether therapy, family work, parenting support, or assessment is the most appropriate next step.
Some children and teenagers need focused support around a specific difficulty. Some families benefit from space to understand patterns at home and think differently about how to respond. In some cases, an assessment is the right place to begin. We will help you think clearly about what is most appropriate and make sure the support feels well matched.
How long does support take?
This varies depending on the nature of the difficulty, how long it has been present, and what kind of help is needed. Some families come for focused short-term work around a particular concern. Others need longer-term support where difficulties are more complex or have been present for some time. We review progress together so that the work stays purposeful and helpful.
Children, teen & family support in Hampstead & online
We offer appointments in person in Hampstead and online across the UK and internationally. Some families prefer the containment and ease of in-person sessions. Others value the flexibility of online work around school, family life, and travel. Both can be effective, and we can help you think about which format is likely to suit your child, teenager, or family best.
Contact Hampstead Psychology to enquire about therapy for children, teens and families in London or online.
Meet The Team
At Hampstead Psychology, all of our psychologists have extensive training to doctoral level and decades of experience in their field of expertise. You will be matched with a psychologist that has the knowledge and skill to help you understand and overcome your problem - not just in the short term but for good.
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