OPEN WAY: Counselling, Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Supervision

OPEN WAY: Counselling, Spiritual Direction, Pastoral Supervision Supporting young people & parents navigating anxiety, EBSA & emotional overwhelm
✨ Teen & Young Adult Counselling
✨ Parent Coaching
✨ Wellbeing Workshops

29/03/2026

Anxiety is not your enemy, it’s an alarm.

When it goes off the alarm is loud, distressing and we just want it to stop. But if we just try to turn off the alarm without recognising what it is alerting us to then it will just keep sounding.

This is how anxiety can get stuck on a loop.

I often ask my teen clients ‘what is the anxiety trying to let you know that matters?’

And then when I ask ‘what it be like to thank the anxiety?’ They look at me like I’ve lost the plot.

But if your teen gets this shift and starts befriending the anxiety rather than seeing it as an adversary everything changes.

The alarm starts to quieten down because it’s being listened to finally.

Anxiety is often just a part of us that feels like it has to work overtime to keep us safe. If we hear it out we can thank it for protecting us and then let it know that we’ve got this.

29/03/2026

What if we asked this? - Is this helping their world grow… or shrink?

What we’re really looking for is whether this is building
capacity, courage and competence over time.

Sometimes pulling back is the right call.
When they’re overwhelmed, they need space to regulate so they can re-engage.

And sometimes… they need your encouragement to take a small, supported step forward.

Not huge leaps.
Not throwing them in the deep end.

Just manageable challenges that gently stretch them.

So when you’re unsure, ask yourself:

Is this in service of avoidance… or growth?
Is this helping my teen move towards the life they want?

Because that’s the goal. Not zero anxiety.
But a bigger, fuller life alongside it.

Want to learn how to actually do this in real life?

Comment WORKSHOP and I’ll send you my free masterclass for parents 💛

28/03/2026

You’ve taken on all the advice… tried the plans… done everything you’ve been told.
And your teen is still avoiding school.

That doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong.

I’m not against gradual return plans…
but on their own, they’re often not enough.

Because real change usually needs a bit more around it:

– Are school actually making meaningful, reasonable adjustments?
– Do you really understand what’s driving the avoidance (and is it being properly addressed)?
– Is your teen learning skills to handle anxiety in a more flexible way?
– Do they feel safe and supported by at least one adult or peer in school?

When those pieces are missing, a plan can feel like pushing a boulder uphill.

And honestly… getting the right support can feel like a fight sometimes.

But things can shift.
Your teen isn’t broken. And this isn’t the end of their story.

Are you looking for a counsellor for your anxious or EBSA teen or do you need support as a parent? Hi I’m Sophie, a teen...
26/03/2026

Are you looking for a counsellor for your anxious or EBSA teen or do you need support as a parent?

Hi I’m Sophie, a teen therapist and I specialise in working with, EBSA, emotional overwhelm and anxiety. I’m based in Bristol but I also see clients online.

My approach is empathetic, educational and practical. I used evidence based models that don’t just push your teen back into school but teach them the tools they need to really thrive, in or out of the school environment.

Comment MORE. And I’ll send you a link to book a free 15 minute call with me to find out what support could look like for your family.

26/03/2026

Do you wish your teen would open up to you more?

Try this: an Amnesty Hour.

A regular time (weekly, fortnightly, or monthly) where your teen can share anything…
without fear of punishment, disappointment, or being lectured.

This isn’t about fixing things in the moment.
It’s about building trust, safety, and connection.

Here’s how to do it:

Start by setting the tone. Let them know this is a safe space. Anything they share, big or small, won’t lead to punishment or a lecture.
(if something involves safety, you may need to actbut you’ll talk with them first.)

Then go first. Share something from your own teenage years that you kept hidden. Let them see your honesty and vulnerability.

Give them the floor.
Let them share whatever they need to no matter how small or big it feels.

And then. Do very little. This is the hardest part!

You can listen, stay calm and make sure you them for trusting you.

Then ask:
“what would you like to do next?”
do nothing? problem-solve together? come back to it later?

Make sure you respect their choice. This isn’t about fixing it’s about building connection.

And connection is what will make them come back to you again.

save this for the next time your teen shuts down.

25/03/2026

It’s not your job as a parent to stop your teen feeling anxious, and not only that.

You can’t…

As a therapist I work with anxious teens all the time and I would be lying to them if I told them I could stop them feeling anxious.

As parents it’s heartbreaking to watch our teens in distress. And understandably we want to eliminate anxiety from their lives. But we can’t.

What we can do is this…

We can create an environment where they have opportunities to grow bigger than the anxiety.

We want to help them build their capacity to move through anxiety. We do this through supported, manageable challenges that grow courage and competence.

If you want to find out exactly how you can do this as a parent? Comment WORKSHOP and I will send you my FREE master class ‘Supporting your teen through anxiety’.

Follow for more tips on how to support your teen.

23/03/2026

1. I let the teen decide how much (if at all) they want their parent involved in the process, because feeling a sense of choice and safety really matters.

2. If they share a thought like “I hate myself,” I don’t jump in to correct it or tell them they’re wrong. I get curious first. Challenging thoughts before we’re ready can actually unintentionally reinforce them or create shame.

3. If they get angry, swear, or push back, I don’t always challenge the behaviour. I look to see what the behaviour is telling me, because that’s where the real work happens.

4. I meet them where they’re at. sometimes that’s at home, sometimes a café, sometimes a walk, and sometimes the therapy room… whatever helps them feel most comfortable for them.

5. I let them know it’s not my job to “fix” them, because they’re not broken.
My role is to help them move towards a life that feels meaningful to them… not one shaped by pressure, expectations, or “shoulds.”

21/03/2026

Your teen thriving doesn’t always equal mainstream school attendance. And that’s OK. As parents we want to get it right, we want our teens to have the best. Sometimes that’s school but sometimes it’s not. It’s OK to listen to your instincts. The path ahead might be unknown and scary. But it doesn’t have to be the end. Just don’t walk it alone. You’ve got this, just keep swimming.

20/03/2026

It is like music to my ears when a client practises what we’ve done in session in the real world and it actually makes a difference. I love my job ❤️

19/03/2026

1. There’s no quick fix.
I know this feel urgent. But before we rush to solutions, we need to slow down.
In therapy first, we build trust.
Then we understand what’s really driving the avoidance.
Only then can we support real, lasting change.

2. The goal isn’t just “getting them back to school.”
The goal is helping your teen thrive again. When anxiety takes hold, their world often shrinks along with their friendships, confidence and independence.
School is part of the picture…but it’s not the whole picture. The aim is to help your teen build their capacity again and then we can have the school conversation.

3. Mainstream school might not be the answer right now.
And that can be really hard to accept.
There are many reasons a young person may not be able to cope in that environment, at least for this season.
Sometimes we need to step back reassess and find a way forward that actually works for them.

4. This doesn’t mean things won’t get better.
With the right support, young people do rebuild. I was one of them!

If you’re feeling stuck or unsure what to do next,
you don’t have to figure it out on your own.

You’re welcome to reach out for support. Click the link in my bio to find out more about teen therapy and parent coaching.

I’m a teen therapist and here’s why the rise of young people using AI chatbots as their therapist really concerns me.AI ...
05/12/2025

I’m a teen therapist and here’s why the rise of young people using AI chatbots as their therapist really concerns me.

AI can be great for quick mental-health info or a bit of reassurance. I’m not anti-tech.
But using AI as a therapist is a whole different story… here’s the biggest issue:

🫂The number one predictor of good mental health is real, supportive, human relationships.
Not perfect advice. Not instant answers. Attachment.

We have no idea what happens long-term when young people start forming emotional bonds with something that isn’t human.

🧠Everything in our evolutionary wiring pushes us to attach to people, people we can see, hear, touch, smell, co-regulate with.
From babyhood to the teen years, our brains literally build themselves through thousands of tiny sensory moments with our caregivers. Those moments teach us to trust, to regulate, to feel safe and to believe that even when life hurts, the world can still be good.

And when it comes to therapy?
Research is crystal clear: the biggest factor in whether therapy works is the quality of the relationship with the therapist. Not the tools. Not the insights. The relationship.

A chatbot can simulate empathy, but it can’t offer a nervous system, a presence, a face, or the deep relational safety young people need to thrive.

We don’t yet know what attaching to a non-human entity does to a developing mind, but early signs aren’t particularly reassuring.

What we do know is this:
Strong relationships first with caring adults, then with peers, grow healthy, resilient, emotionally grounded young adults.

AI can support.
It cannot replace human attachment.

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Thornbury Baptist Church
Thornbury

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+447792971119

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