Thriving Young Minds

31/08/2025

28/08/2025

Meet the Team 💚

Name: Hayley
Specialism: Trauma
Star Sign: Pisces

Listening to: Anything and everything! From Chappell Roan and Florence and The Machine to dance and RnB.

I’m Hayley, a freelance counsellor and psychotherapist working with Thriving Young Minds. I first started working with Adele almost 10 years ago in another setting and joined her on her private practice journey in 2019, a year after she founded the service. Adele and I have very similar views and passions, so it was an honour to be invited to join the Thriving Young Minds family and become part of what feels like a very important mission – to offer timely, professional and ethical support to the children, young people and families who need it.

Being part of the Thriving Young Minds family feels like a huge privilege to me; I get to work alongside like-minded therapists in an environment that feels like home, and I am entrusted with the inner most thoughts and feelings of many individuals on a regular basis. I often get asked how I do my job, and how difficult it must be; sometimes it can get tough, mostly because I care so deeply about the wellbeing of every person I work with, but I am surrounded by amazing individuals who support me to support others. The moments of joy and success in therapy far outweigh the pain and suffering, so to me, it feels completely worthwhile.

Personally, I am a 'mum of boys’, which means I am outnumbered at home (!) but I wouldn’t have it any other way! We are a footballing household, so my spare time outside of work is often spent at football training or games; playing for a local women’s team and watching my boys play is what I enjoy most. Needless to say, we were all on board The Lionesses journey this summer; equity in women’s sports is something I have grown up advocating for, so I was filled with pride to witness the women’s game being promoted and celebrated on such a big stage. My 8-year-old thinks it’s pretty cool that his mum plays football, so I’m winning every day on that front, even if he calls me bruh instead of Mum!

Having been a qualified counsellor for 11 years, my practise has continued to evolve over time; I now specialise in trauma, offering trauma-informed support and interventions including EMDR therapy which I have found to be such an amazing therapy from both a personal and professional perspective. I am also a Clinical Supervisor which involves supporting other counsellors in their work.

Thriving Young Minds is such an important part of who I am as a practitioner, and I am excited to be part of the onward journey as we continue to develop our provisions to better suit the needs of individuals and our community.

25/08/2025

Do you know someone who experiences Emotionally Based School Avoidance?

With the new school year approaching, we know the anxiety will be building for many families.

If your teen finds school attendance difficult due to anxiety, panic, or overwhelm — you're not alone. Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA) is more common than many think. Recent data from the UK Department for Education (2023) suggests that up to 35% of students who miss school regularly are doing so due to emotional distress.

💛 It's not bad behaviour.
💛 It's not your fault.
💛 It's a sign your child is overwhelmed and needs emotional support, not pressure.

What helps most?
✅ Connection over correction
✅ Rest, not rush
✅ Gentle routines and emotional safety
✅ A listening ear 💕

Where possible, work in partnership with school so they can understand the issues and can implement adaptations. This isn’t always straightforward, and many parents experience blame and rejection rather than support. Keep a record of all your communication and escalate concerns where necessary.

EBSA can be incredibly difficult for parents – it can add pressure onto maintaining family life, employment, income and your own mental health. Seek support and speak to others – you are not alone.

You don’t need to “fix” it all. Just being there is more powerful than you know. Share the video in the comments with your child so you can both understand how your nervous system works and how this relates to EBSA.

Self-compassion and understanding can help young people move away from guilt and shame.

Support: | Not Fine In School | Anna Freud Centre

22/08/2025

✨️ Feedback Friday ✨️

We are always grateful for feedback to help us provide the best possible service 🙏

21/08/2025

🥳 I have never been more proud 🥳

He did it! He passed all of his GCSEs 🙌

💕Being in the year group who started high school during Covid, had no transition, sat in one classroom wearing a face mask and being sent home to isolate constantly.
💕 Feeling so overwhelmed throughout high school but never having his needs recognised or met.
💕 Being spectacularly failed by a 'Specialist ASC' school/business who only cared about their profit.
💕 His Year 10 was so traumatic, he achieved his GCSEs in the space of 8 months 🙌🙌🙌

❌️ To the school system, the school management and staff, the local authority - you failed.
▪️You failed to build a relationship.
▪️You failed to understand his needs.
▪️You failed to listen.
▪️You failed to be inclusive.
▪️You failed in your responsibility.
▪️You failed to educate yourselves.
▪️You failed to look beyond your policies and procedures.
▪️You failed to see beneath the distress.
▪️You failed to protect him.
▪️You failed to see his ability.
▪️You failed in your duty.

✅️ To the team who supported him in Year 11:
🔸️ You saw him.
🔸️ You saw his potential.
🔸️ You built the relationship.
🔸️ You believed in him.
🔸️ As a parent, I will never be able to explain how much that means.

To parents of SEN children:
💚 Never give up. We shouldn't have to fight but never stop pushing for what you believe is right.
💚 Focus on the relationship with your child, love them for who they are, and put your energy into their passions and abilities in a world where everyone focuses on the deficits.
💚 Never doubt yourself. It's such a hard time, but you will get there.

I am so proud of his determination, his self-belief, his commitment, never giving up when the world was against him, knowing his worth...the results are just the icing on the cake.

To my boy - I never doubted you for one second. You did it 🥳

20/08/2025

✨️ A Guide for Parents of Teens Experiencing Emotionally Based School Avoidance ✨️

With the new academic year approaching, the anxiety will be starting to build for parents and teens who experience emotionally based school avoidance.

Have a look at our latest blog, and keep an eye out for more posts coming up about EBSA soon.

💚 What do you think is needed to support parents and teens with school attendance difficulties? Share with others so they don't feel as alone 💚

14/08/2025

From the Therapy Room – Peer Relationships

Peer relationships often come up in the therapy room. Whether it’s historic issues with an ongoing impact, or current difficulties, they play a powerful role in shaping a young person’s identity and emotional health. It is rarely an isolated conversation, we talk a lot about how it affects self-worth, confidence, school experiences and other relationships. Many young people talk about:

Feeling excluded or rejected

Pressure to fit in or change who they are

Bullying, both online and in person

Fear of being judged for being different

These challenges can have lasting effects, including:

Low self-esteem

Difficulty forming healthy adult relationships

Anxiety, depression, and self-belief difficulties

Struggles with boundaries and communication

How parents can support their children:

Listen without judgment and create a safe space for open conversations

Stay involved and be aware of their social environment

Focus on strengths, self-confidence and their right to be treated well

Talk through their options and ask what support they would like from you

Guide responsible and mindful social media use

Model healthy, respectful relationships in everyday life

Speak to school, where appropriate, about how they can provide support

Supporting your child through their peer relationship difficulties helps build a stronger, more emotionally healthy future 💚

13/08/2025

For those preparing for exam results over the next couple of weeks, and for those who should have been, but aren't....

It's a time that brings up a whole range of emotions. If you are getting results, you will probably be feeling nervous, pressured and maybe a little excited. Whatever the results, there are many options available to you. There is so much focus on following a traditional route, but do what is best for you, what suits your strengths, interests and personality. Do what makes you happy.

For those who should have been getting results, and will be hearing stories about others getting theirs - you are just as valid and important. Maybe you found school challenging, maybe you took a different route. There are still many options available to you. Do what is right for you, try not to compare yourselves to others, and distance yourself from the expectations of family and friends.

Whatever this time brings for you - be proud of yourself and do life in the right way for you 💚

13/08/2025

FIVE CLUBS - ONE GOAL

On March 7th 2022, we opened our first club in Bury with 24 guys walking through the door on that first night.

Today, we have five clubs in the Bury and surrounding areas, with over 100 people attending each week.

If you haven’t attended before or haven’t been for a while, come along tonight at 7pm for a free brew, biscuits and a chat.

09/08/2025

Key Themes This Month

We often get asked what 'issues' we can help with. Here is a snapshot of some common themes we have been working with over the last few weeks. It is very rarely one clear cut area that we work on, there is a lot of cross over. For example, EBSA can be influenced by transitions, low confidence, peer relationship issues, and we know that there are increased school attendance difficulties for neurodivergent young people.

The way we work is just as important as the areas we work with. The most important element of any therapy is building the relationship. This is ongoing throughout the therapy. We also build understanding of the roots of presenting issues using a trauma-informed approach. This means they can be addressed effectively rather than just putting a 'sticking plaster' over a wound.

In all our work, our ethos is to support each person to develop acceptance, compassion, understanding and confidence to become their most genuine self and to achieve their own goals and aims, in a way that works for them.

Look out for more information soon about EBSA and how you can support your child in the lead up to the new academic year 💚

07/08/2025

What goes on behind the scenes?

If you were to hear our team meetings or conversations, you would hear A LOT about ethical working, integrity and how we can ensure we are consistently providing the best service for young people and their families. It is without doubt our biggest passion and motivation for what we do. We have heard, and lived ourselves, too many horror stories and we want that to end with us.

Every person who walks through our door brings a unique experience, and it’s our honour to hold space for that with compassion and acceptance. This means your confidentiality is sacred, your autonomy is respected, and your wellbeing is always our top priority. We follow strict professional standards to ensure your safety, dignity, and trust are never compromised.

We work from a client-led approach because we believe you are the expert in your life. We’re not here to “fix” you – we don’t believe there is anything “wrong” with you. We’re here to walk beside you, to support your journey, your pace, and your goals. You deserve a space where your voice is heard, your choices are respected, and your real self can thrive.

We’re not just here to provide therapy. We’re here to build real, human connection ethically, compassionately, and with genuine care.

We are always discussing our next steps, our next training course to develop professionally, how the service can be more neuro-affirming, welcoming, inclusive and how we can meet the needs of young people and their families.

We also want to hear your voice, if you have any concerns about therapy, if there is anything important to you, specific ways we can support you…let us know 💚

06/08/2025

When it's your week off, but your children are teenagers....🤦🏻‍♀️

Might as well be productive! Family time this afternoon...hopefully 🙄😂

✏️ School stuff bought
🦷 Dentist done
👥️ Transition meeting done
🚗 Unexpected car repairs sorted 😢

Time to try and switch off before it all starts again 😊

How are the school holidays going for you?