For Children & Young People

We offer a range of services and activities to support children and young people affected by Domestic Abuse, including:

1-2-1 Therapy Sessions with a Trained Practitioner

These sessions can include one of or a mix of the following:

Mindfulness CBT, Certified Trauma Play Therapy (CTP)
Solution-Based Counselling
Emotional Freedom Technique and Thought Field Tapping Therapy
Meditation and Breath-work
Mentoring and Behavioural Mentoring
Restorative Practice.

Each session is tailored to the child / young person and will run weekly or fortnightly depending on their needs. Our sessions are suitable for those aged 5 to 25 years old. Through our support sessions we aim to give children and young people the tools they need to look after their own happiness and wellbeing, plus we promote the importance of having healthy relationships. All of our trained practitioners and peer mentors have lived experience of Domestic Abuse.

Focus Groups

These sessions are for children / young people grouped often by age, to come together in our safe space with our Community Engagement Practitioner to speak freely about their time with Free Your Mind, their experiences and to complete activities to focus their minds.

Holiday Activity Programmes

Our summer holiday activity programmes are enjoyed by children who have previously attended 1-2-1 therapeutic sessions with us. We provide a safe space for children, to take them away from the isolation of being at home and distract them from reflecting on their trauma. The activities encourage new friendships, increase confidence and teach new skills. Activities include pizza making, arts and crafts, cooking classes, face painting and card games.

Partnership with Box Up Crime

We have a dedicated Youth Mentor at Box Up Crime in Redbridge once a week at their open boxing sessions for children and young people. Box Up Crime provides a safe place for children and young people to build confidence and a way to get a much-needed healthy release. Having a mentor here allows them to receive support they need, combining physical and mental outlets for those who may be suffering in silence due to complicated home lives.

Live Chat

Our live chat service can be accessed throughout our website. This service is specifically for children and young people in need of support. Please DO NOT use this service to ask questions about our services or ask for referral forms. You’re able to talk to us from 10am-10pm each day. To make sure we can answer everyone who’s waiting, you won’t be able to join the queue for a 1-2-1 chat after 9:30pm. We’ll do our best to help you find the right support. When you talk with us, we promise to:

Never judge you or what you say
Always have someone to support you
Give you space to explore your thoughts and feelings
Support you to make safe choices
Keep everything you tell us confidential*.

Should you need to speak to us outside of these times, you can leave a message and someone will get back to you when the chat service re-opens. While you are waiting for a call back, you can visit the Childline website. to get advice on ways to remain calm, breathing techniques and many other resources. You can also call them on 0800 1111 where a trained counsellor is available until 3:30am. If you feel that you or someone you know is in danger or you feel unsafe or are an adult with concerns about the immediate safety of a child, please call 999 straight away. For further support on keeping children safe you can visit the NSPCC website.