Finding a private counsellor

[loudbatperson]

My 13 year old daughter has been having episodes of self harm for a few few weeks.

Today, I received a welfare visit from the police, as, whilst at school, she had used the SHOUT app and said she was feeling suicidal and had a razor. They contacted the police, however the report arrived to them several hours later.

I was able to contact the school who have taken the sharp away (she had taken the blade out of a pencil sharpener), and spoke with her, but we're happy she had calmed. She stayed in school. They checked her and she had not actually harmed. They checked her for any other potential implements too.

We already have submitted a referral to our local mental health team and we are waiting for the assessment. However they have warned can be up to 12 months.

I would like to look at getting some private counselling sessions in the meantime, but I don't know where to start finding a suitable person and what to check out about them. Can anyone give me any pointers?

We don't have anyone around us who has used a private services, so no recommendations.

Sorry you are all going through this. Make a GP appointment for yourself and discuss with them possible routes to find Counselling for DC and other treatment. They will be aware of many people in same boat as you locally.

Thank you. I will be in touch with the GP in the morning (when appointment lien opens) to update on the developments (they are already aware of her self harm issue) and ask them if they can help bring forward her assessment, however I am not overly confident as I know the system is so stretched right now.

I will also ask for their recommendations for local private options / and any other options available.

We were in a similar situation with DD at age 12. I paid for her to go privately - £70 a session per week for six months and now a year on it is down to ad hoc sessions. She has stopped self-harming as far as I know. I found her on BPAS and I went with one where she didn't need to miss school, a woman like DD asked for and one that was in person also like she asked for. That made it fairly easy to decide as she was the only one who could meet all three of those criteria and did children. Good luck, it is stressful but they also need to help themselves.

@loudbatperson
Have things steadied this week?
Fingers crossed

I can recommend Alexiaelliott.co.uk
She is a hypnotherapist with loads of experience in mental health.
Literally she changes lives.
Look on her website if you feel she could help your daughter.
I hope you and your dd get through this horrible time asap.

You can search for a psychologist via BPS here and via ACHIPPP here.