Gabby Connell
MBACP
CHILD/ADOLESCENT THERAPIST
My background is in Targeted Family Support, and I have 15 years’ experience working with young people and their families. I recognise the vital role that parents and caregivers play in a young person’s life and, where appropriate, I support healthy communication and understanding between teenagers and those who care for them.
Before training as a counsellor, I worked in education, supporting and teaching young people in secondary and further education, with a particular focus on supporting young parents. Alongside my family work and private clients, I currently also work as a counsellor in a secondary school.
My aim is to help young people build resilience, confidence, and emotional wellbeing that lasts beyond the counselling room, while also supporting positive and meaningful relationships with family and friends.
My Training:
I work in an integrative and creative way, having trained at The Institute for Arts in Education in London. Alongside talking therapy, I may use creative approaches such as drawing, painting, or play where appropriate, particularly when emotions or experiences are difficult to put into words. I am also a qualified Fusion Therapeutic Life Coach, so am able to use coaching strategies to support the counselling process and this is particularly helpful sometimes when working with teenagers.
Sessions are always bespoke to the individual; we start where the young person wants to begin and work at their pace. I place a strong emphasis on building a trusting therapeutic relationship, as I believe this is central to meaningful and effective counselling.
I can offer Therapeutic Coaching as a standalone service to adults (18+) as an alternative to counselling, if a more practical and solution focused approach is preferred.
My Therapy Practice:
I am a qualified, BACP-registered counsellor specialising in working with teenagers and young people aged 12– 25. I am passionate about supporting young people as they navigate the challenges of growing up in an increasingly complex world.
Adolescence and early adulthood can be a time of big emotions and uncertainty. Young people may struggle with mental health and wellbeing, neurodiversity, identity questions, pressure from school or social media, and changing relationships, all of which can feel confusing and overwhelming at times. I offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space where young people can talk openly, feel heard, and make sense of their experiences.
Training, Qualifications & Experience
o Diploma in Counselling Teenagers (Dip Teens) - IATE London
o Diploma in Trauma Informed and Mental Health Schools and Communities - Practitioner Status - Trauma Informed Schools
o Foundation Certificate in Psychodynamic Counselling - The Counselling Foundation
o Fusion Therapeutic Life Coach
o Suicide Prevention Training
o Level 2 Safeguarding
o Enhanced DBS
o Registered Member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
