Alex's Answer

Hi There,  

Thanks for reaching out. 

Well done in taking the first step towards getting some help and support for yourself. This shows great self-awareness and courage from yourself which are great qualities to have in a person! 

You have asked how do you talk to a therapist or counsellor, this is a really good question as it can be a tough step to take. We wonder have you started talking to a therapist or counsellor yet or if you have a first session coming up? Therapy sessions should provide a safe space for you to talk about whatever is going on for you but it may also help to ask for support in how to talk. Do you feel like you could ask your therapist for tips on how to talk in sessions? They may be able to support you on this.  

If you are looking for therapy support or counselling there are free therapeutic services and counselling services, depending on what the issue might be and there are others you may need to pay for. For specific therapeutic / counselling services you might contact your GP who could be able to refer you to the specific service, and they could also advise you if they will be free. 

Here at the ISPCC/ Childline, we have a one-to-one service with professionals called the Childline Therapeutic service support workers for young people who wants to build their emotional resilience and talk about what is going on for them. You can access the service through the website link www.ispcc.ie/child-and-family-support-services/ to find out a little more on the service.   

We also have a digital anxiety management support service for young people age 14-18 called the Space from Anxiety Programme which is based on Cognitive Behaviour therapy and includes mindfulness practices. It can be accessed through any smart device at a time that suits you best and you will be supported by a trained ISPCC team member. You can learn more about the service by checking the www.ispcc.ie/guided-digital-programmes/  

You may find some of these articles on our website helpful also: www.childline.ie/getting-help/ ; www.childline.ie/childlines-24-hour-support-line-and-other-services-explained/ ; www.childline.ie/not-sure-how-to-ask-for-help-heres-what-to-do/  

If you would like to talk privately, you can contact Childline for free by chatting online via our webchat service at www.childline.ie, or by calling 1800 66 66 66. We are available 24 hours a day everyday. 

We hope you find this information helpful and feel free to get in touch to ask any question again. 

Take care of yourself, 

Alex