Chris Brennan Therapy

What is Adolescent Therapy?

Adolescent Therapy is a safe, confidential space for young people to express the things that matter to them. Teenagers are in a vulnerable phase of their lives. They’re learning who they are, exploring their interests, and undergoing major hormonal changes. Themes I work with include anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, grief, trauma, perfectionism, low self esteem and parental separation. My sessions will provide a consistent and safe setting where the clients can unpack the things that get in the way of their happiness.

My Way of Working

I believe that the most healing factor in therapy is the therapeutic relationship. My approach is geared to the individual needs of the client, accepting them for how and who they are. The therapy is integrative, so I am able to adapt my style of working to meet a client's specific needs. My experience as a drama therapist means that I can also offer creative ways of looking at difficulties , providing a valuable alternative to the 'talk' interventions.

The initial meeting is your chance to ask questions about how I work, and decide with confidence whether I am the right therapist for your child.

Christopher Brennan MA, Cert CBT, Clinical Supervisor, HCPC Registered

Like many teenagers, some of my adolescence was quite turbulent, at times it felt as if I was completing an emotional assault course. But the experience has afforded me the insight, and a deep seated empathy with this defining stage of development.

I started my vocation working as a volunteer at a specialist school for autism, Hillingdon Manor School. Witnessing the struggles these children have, I felt inspired to embark upon a professional training to become a drama therapist.

I soon recognised the value in offering a teenager a non judgemental and friendly space where they can be themselves. I believe that challenging young people to think and behave differently can enable them to work through the bigger problems. I enhanced my practice with a CBT qualification and have worked in other settings, including mainstream schools and the charities sector.

I want every young person to feel good about themselves, for them to see that they are unique, to understand that the turbulence that they are experiencing is temporary.

I adhere to the standards of The Heath Care Professionals Council and The British Association of Drama Therapists.

my areas of expertise

Anxiety

In the span of my career, I have noticed that anxiety is the most frequent presentation in young people. Anxiety is a normal, human feeling of fear or panic. The manifestations and causes, however are diverse. Adolescents today are exposed to a huge amount of media, social expectations and academic pressures. It's no wonder they can become overwhelmed and feel unable to cope. In my sessions I aim to identify and address the source of anxiety, then help the client to unravel it, find alternative perspectives and finally, find ways to work through the anxiety and help bring it to a close.

Low Self Esteem

If a person has low self esteem, they have negative beliefs about themselves and will tend to highlight their mistakes and focus on their weaknesses. Low self esteem can result in a person negatively judging their own ability to complete daily tasks, and as a result it can affect a young person’s performance at school or their social life. These experiences can make a young person feel confused, inadequate, or isolated. The first steps are focused on listening, validating and then introducing perspective.

Phobias and Obsessive Behaviour

People who suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), experience intrusion and unwelcome thoughts, images, urges, or doubts that are regularly repeated in their minds. These obsessions are often of a distressing nature and can be so embarrassing or horrible that they are kept secret from others. Intrusive obsessions often result in increased anxiety and the development of ritualistic behaviour or compulsions.

Welcome to Chris Brennan Therapy