Sally Shanahan

I work with teenagers and young people who may appear to be coping on the outside, while feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low, or emotionally stuck inside. You might still be going to school, meeting expectations, or doing what鈥檚 expected of you, while feeling unsure how to explain what鈥檚 going on or where to turn next. Some young people come to therapy knowing exactly what they want help with; others just know that coping is taking more effort than it should.

I offer private counselling in Northamptonshire for teenagers and young people experiencing anxiety, emotional overwhelm, low mood, friendship or relationship difficulties, self-criticism, or pressure to be 鈥渙kay鈥�. Therapy is a space where you don鈥檛 need to perform, impress, or explain yourself perfectly. We work at a pace that feels manageable, respectful, and safe.

My work with young people is informed by a strong understanding of emotional development, the pressures of school and social life, and how expectations, peer relationships, and authority can shape how emotions are managed or hidden. I pay close attention to how young people have learned to adapt, cope, or stay safe emotionally, often without realising it.

My approach is integrative and relational, but above all it is warm and attentive. I listen carefully for what sits underneath what is being said, including feelings that are hard to put into words and patterns that may keep repeating. Many teenagers I work with describe feeling responsible for others, emotionally shut down, easily overwhelmed, or caught between wanting closeness and needing space. These responses are not treated as problems to fix, but as understandable ways of coping.

In therapy, we gently explore emotions, notice how stress shows up in the body, and begin to make sense of how earlier experiences may still be influencing how things feel now. The aim is to help you feel more comfortable being yourself, more able to express what you need, and less alone with what you鈥檙e carrying.

My practice offers private counselling for teenagers and young people in Northamptonshire who are finding things emotionally difficult, even if they鈥檙e not sure how to explain why. Many young people come feeling anxious, overwhelmed, low in mood, irritable, or shut down, often while still trying to keep going at school and at home.

Sessions offer a steady, confidential space where young people can talk, think, or simply be, without pressure to perform or explain everything straight away. Some sessions involve talking; others might involve slowing things down, noticing what鈥檚 going on inside, or making sense of feelings over time. There is no expectation to 鈥渄o therapy properly鈥�.

Work together is shaped around what feels safest and most helpful for the young person. Attention is given to boundaries, trust, and pace, particularly for those who have learned to keep things inside or look after others. Confidentiality is explained clearly and handled with care, with safety always kept in mind.

My aim is to offer a space where young people feel taken seriously, listened to, and supported in understanding themselves, so that emotions feel less overwhelming and everyday life becomes easier to manage.

It鈥檚 very common to feel nervous before a first session, or to worry about what you鈥檙e supposed to say. Many young people come without a clear plan, or feeling unsure how to put things into words. Some know exactly what鈥檚 been bothering them; others just know that something feels harder than it used to. There is no right or wrong way to begin, and you don鈥檛 need to have anything prepared.

The first session is a chance for us to meet and get a sense of what feels most important for you right now. We might talk about what鈥檚 been going on recently, what school or friendships feel like, or what made you decide to come. You won鈥檛 be expected to share everything, give a full history, or talk about anything before you鈥檙e ready.

I鈥檒l help guide the conversation gently, and we鈥檒l go at a pace that feels manageable. Some people talk a lot in a first session; others need more time to settle. Both are completely okay. My aim is to help you feel as comfortable as possible, and to create a space where you feel listened to rather than judged or analysed.

You鈥檙e also encouraged to notice how you feel during the session and whether this feels like a place where you could talk more openly over time. Therapy works best when the relationship feels right, and the first session is as much about seeing how it feels for you as it is about deciding what support might be helpful going forward.