Counselling & Therapy

Little Miracles Charity has a highly experienced Therapies Team who offer a range of creative and talking therapies designed to support mental health and emotional wellbeing in a safe, understanding environment.

We recognise that families may be going through extremely difficult and sensitive times. Our aim is to provide compassionate, appropriate support for every individual who reaches out.

Who our support is for

Therapeutic support is available to any member of the family, including:

Children with additional needs, disabilities, or life-limiting conditions
Brothers and sisters
Parents and carers

Please note that the minimum age for counselling is 7 years old.

Our therapy options

Depending on availability, our therapists may offer:

Counselling
Bereavement counselling
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
Play therapy
Mindfulness-based support

Referrals and waiting list

We operate a waiting list system, which is carefully reviewed and triaged by our Counselling Lead. Before starting support, you will be offered a pre-assessment. This helps us understand your needs and ensure we provide the most appropriate level of support.

Following this, the Counselling Lead will prioritise requests based on need and arrange sessions accordingly. If we feel another service may be better suited, we will always aim to guide you in the right direction with appropriate signposting.

Location of services

Please note that counselling is only available in selected geographic areas and is primarily based at our Peterborough branch.

Attending sessions

We understand that attending appointments can sometimes be challenging. However, for therapy to be as helpful as possible, it is important that sessions are attended consistently wherever possible.

Get in touch

To find out more about our counselling services, please contact us at counselling@littlemiraclescharity.org.uk

How to Request Therapy for an Adult

Step 1: Complete a self-referral form

You will then need to complete our self-referral form. In this form, you’ll be asked to share the nature of the support you feel you need.

Please don’t worry if you’re unsure about what type of support is right for you. Simply tell us as much as you feel comfortable sharing about your situation. Your first appointment will be a supportive conversation where we can explore your needs together, and we will then match you with the most appropriate member of our team.

All information you provide is treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality.

COUNSELLING REQUEST FORM
Step 2: Pre-assessment

Once we receive your request, one of our qualified Psychotherapists will contact you to arrange a pre-assessment appointment.

This session is an opportunity to talk through your goals and explore whether therapy is the right support for you. Appointments usually last between 45 and 90 minutes.

If we agree that therapy is appropriate, we will then carefully match you with a therapist best suited to your individual needs.

Additional support options

If you are looking for practical help, such as completing a Disability Living Allowance form, our Family Support Team may be better placed to assist you. They can also offer lighter-touch emotional support where appropriate.

Online counselling

Please note that all adult counselling sessions are delivered online.

Our therapists

All of our therapists are professionally registered with either the NCPS or BACP, ensuring safe, ethical, and high-quality support. For more information, please click here.

Therapies for Children and Young People

We offer a range of therapeutic support for children and young people, most commonly from the age of 8 and above. Our aim is to provide a safe, supportive space where children can express themselves in a way that feels right for them.

Depending on the child’s needs, we may use a variety of approaches, including talking therapy, art therapy, and play therapy. The first steps into therapy will depend on who is making the referral and the individual circumstances of the child and family.

Where possible, we find it helpful for children accessing therapy to also be involved in other services at Little Miracles Charity. This helps us build a fuller understanding of your child’s needs and your family’s wider situation, allowing us to offer more joined-up support.

Professional referrals

If a referral is being made by a professional, we kindly ask that they contact our team first to discuss requirements. Where therapy is to take place in a school setting, we would always want to talk through access needs and arrangements before a referral is submitted.

Waiting times

Because of the specialist training and experience required to work with children under 11, waiting times for this age group may be longer.

Before requesting counselling

Before making a referral, please consider the following carefully. If you are unsure about any of these points, we encourage you to speak with a member of the Counselling Team before submitting a request:

Do you feel your child is able to stay in a room with a counsellor for around 45 minutes for a full session?
Do you feel your child is able to express their thoughts and feelings, whether through talking, play, or creative activities?
Are there any behaviours that may impact their ability to remain in the session safely and comfortably?

We understand that every child is different, and these questions are simply to help ensure that therapy is offered in a way that best supports their wellbeing.

How to Request Therapy for a Child or Young Person

If you are making a referral for your child, the first step is to ensure you have an up-to-date membership form in place. This ensures you are covered by our insurance and able to access our services safely.

You will then need to complete our referral form. In this form, you will be asked to share details about the support your child may need.

Please don’t worry if you are unsure what type of support is most appropriate. Your first meeting with us will be a supportive conversation, and from there we will ensure your child is matched with the most suitable member of our team.

All information you provide is treated with the utmost respect and confidentiality.

COUNSELLING REQUEST FORM

Pre-assessment

Once we receive your request, a qualified Psychotherapist will contact you to arrange a pre-assessment appointment. This is an opportunity to talk through your child’s needs and explore whether therapy is the right form of support.

Appointments usually last between 45 and 60 minutes. Depending on your child’s age and needs, this may take place with or without parents or carers present.

If it is agreed that therapy is appropriate, we will then carefully match your child with the therapist best placed to support their individual needs.

Therapy sessions

All of our therapists are fully qualified and experienced in working with children and young people with additional needs, disabilities, and life-limiting conditions. They are also registered with either the BACP or NCPS.

Please note that therapy is for the child alone, and parents or carers are not able to attend sessions.

Working with schools

We also work closely with schools to deliver therapeutic support within educational settings, including on school premises. If you would like to explore this option, please get in touch to discuss it with our team.

How Much Does Counselling and Therapy Cost?

Little Miracles Charity relies almost entirely on voluntary donations to continue providing support to families. Because of this, counselling sessions are usually offered on a donation basis.

We are committed to making therapy as accessible as possible. We never want cost to be a barrier to receiving support, and we encourage you to get in touch even if you are unsure what you may be able to contribute.

Donation-based sessions

For most sessions, families are invited to contribute what they are able to afford. On average, this is around £25.40 per hour, often paid via direct debit.

To give context, the typical cost of counselling with other local providers is usually between £50 and £90 per hour.

School-based sessions

Where sessions take place in a school setting, the cost is £25 per session. Payment arrangements must be agreed in advance between the parent or carer and the school.

If You Need Support Sooner

Please note that we are not a crisis service.

If someone is in immediate danger, or there is an emergency, please contact the emergency services straight away by calling 999.

If you are worried about the safety or wellbeing of a child or another individual, please contact our safeguarding team by emailing safeguarding@littlemiraclescharity.org.uk

If you need immediate health advice or mental health support, please contact NHS 111, option 2.

Other services which may be useful include:

Mental Health Hub - phone 0800 4480828
Childline - phone 0800 1111
Samaritans - phone 116123
Shout - text ‘SHOUT’ to 85258
CAMHS - phone 0800 1707055

Clinical Supervision

Within our Counselling Team at Little Miracles Charity, we offer Clinical Supervision as an essential and mandatory part of safe, ethical therapeutic practice for all practising therapists.

Supervision is primarily delivered on a one-to-one basis, although group supervision is also available.

External therapists

Clinical Supervision is also available to therapists working outside of Little Miracles. For those supporting our families, we offer supervision at a discounted rate, as this is a service we greatly value and actively encourage.

A supportive and reflective space

Our Clinical Supervisor holds a Diploma in Clinical Supervision and is a highly experienced practising psychotherapist. She also tutors at Level 4 and Level 5 psychotherapy, bringing a wealth of knowledge and experience to her supervisory work.

“The 'injustice thought process' was a breakthrough and I took so much from our supervision… thank you for your insight”

Get involved with clinical supervision

If you are a practising therapist who is:

Looking for clinical supervision
In need of placement hours
Interested in volunteering with us
Or would simply like to find out more about our supervision service

We would be very happy to hear from you. Please contact at counselling@littlemiraclescharity.org.uk or phone 01733 262226.

Little Miracles relies almost entirely on voluntary donations. If you are able, please donate today so that we can continue to provide vital services like counselling to our families when they need us most.

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Little Miracles Charity - registered charity number 1160178.