Counselling Children and Young People in Private Practice - Practical

In this review of Counselling Children and Young People in Private Practice the reviewer finds a practical, clinic-focused guide for counsellors moving into private work with children and families. The book is aimed at qualified practitioners and trainees who face the gaps left by oversubscribed statutory services and limited school provision, and its single biggest reason to buy is clear, experience-based guidance on how to set up and manage therapeutic work with young clients in a private setting. The review highlights usefulness for clinicians needing realistic, ethical and procedural advice rather than a theoretical textbook.

Key Features

• Practical set-up guidance: The book offers step-by-step advice to help counsellors establish and run a private practice for children and families with reduced guesswork.
• Risk and safeguarding focus: It addresses common concerns about safety and boundaries so practitioners can protect clients and themselves while working outside statutory systems.
• Client and family work: The text explains approaches for involving parents and carers constructively in therapy when children present with emotional or psychological needs.
• Bridges gaps in services: It recognises oversubscribed CAMHS and short school interventions, helping therapists deliver longer-term, specialist support in the private sector.
• Accessible to different experience levels: The book is written to assist both experienced clinicians and those new to private practice with clear, applicable recommendations.

Who It's For

This book suits counsellors, psychotherapists and trainee practitioners who already have clinical experience with children or adolescents and are considering or starting private practice. It is particularly useful for those who feel constrained by statutory or school settings and want guidance on managing referrals, consent, safeguarding and family dynamics outside those systems.

Those looking for a strictly theoretical or research-heavy textbook may want a different title, as the emphasis here is on applied practice, ethical issues and practical processes rather than exhaustive empirical studies.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Practical, practice-focused advice that reduces uncertainty about starting private work with children.
• Clear attention to safeguarding and boundary issues relevant to private settings.
• Guidance on working with families and carers makes it useful for systemic, relational cases.

Cons

• Not a heavy research volume, so readers expecting in-depth academic literature reviews may find it limited.

Specifications

Title	Counselling Children and Young People in Private Practice
Author / Brand	Rebecca Kirkbride
Focus	Practical guidance for private therapeutic work with children and families
Primary audience	Counsellors, psychotherapists and trainees moving into private practice
Key themes	Safeguarding, family work, practice set-up, ethics
Use case	Clinicians addressing gaps left by oversubscribed statutory and brief school services

Our Verdict

This is a useful, value-for-money resource for clinicians who want pragmatic support when moving into or improving private practice with young clients. It is best for practitioners seeking actionable advice on safeguarding, consent and family work rather than a deep academic treatise. For therapists needing hands-on procedures and realistic case-focused guidance, it repays its place on the bookshelf.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this book suitable for trainees?
Yes. It is written to support both trainees and experienced practitioners who require practical guidance on private practice with children and families.

Does it cover safeguarding and risk?
Yes. Safeguarding, boundary-setting and risk management in private settings are core topics the book addresses.

Will it replace statutory CAMHS guidance?
No. It is intended to supplement clinical practice where statutory services are limited, offering private practitioners applied advice rather than replacing formal service protocols.