Meet the Therapists

To contact Amanda:

Phone: 07716123834

Email: Colchesterchildrenscounselling@gmail.com

Amanda Hitchin - Find out more below. 

I am a psychodynamic counsellor who is passionate about giving every child a chance to have their behaviour and mental health understood.

I am the owner and clinical lead of Colchester Children's Counselling private practice in a beautiful listed building the heart of Colchester City Centre. 

Along side running my private practice, I am also a specialist Autism therapist for 'The Transforming Autism Project' where I am privalleged to provide parent infant support.  ( Find out more here https://transformingautism.org

Prior to counselling, I worked for 15 years in various education roles, ranging from pre-school up to secondary schools in various support, teaching, forest school teaching and school leadership roles within the Essex and Suffolk area.  

I have supported vulnerable families as a family liaison and designated safeguarding leader and have experience in supporting vulnerable and traumatised children, including those in local authority care. 


Since 2016, I have been a licenced 'Thrive Approach' practitioner supporting children with their emotional needs within the school setting.  

Prior to this, I have worked and volunteered in the NHS.


In my Therapeutic BA, I focused my research on the space within mainstream education for traumatised children.  

In my most recent training (MA in Psychodynamic Counselling), I worked with a range of clients in primary and secondary education settings as well as adults in the health and social care sector, covering a range of clinical themes including: trauma, parental illness and terminal illness, anxiety, incontinence, ADHD, absconding, abuse, domestic violence, bereavement and grief, aggression, psychosomatic illness, disassociation disorder and depression. This list is not exhaustive to my knowledge and understanding to the many other themes that clients may present with and my work experience.  


Having a child with a social, emotional or mental health need can be extremely challenging and I believe in non-judgemental collaboration with the family to support you through this period. I support parents through the process and will meet and communicate with you at intervals whilst supporting your child. 


Please get in touch if you would like to know more, 


Take care,

Amanda 


Amanda's  sessions are £80 for a 50 minute (Therapeutic hour). I offer a small number of reduced fee sessions for those experienceing finacial difficulties.  

 To contact Chloe:

Phone: 07751923959

Email: Chloe.moul@gmail.com

Chloe Moul - Find out more below. 


As a psychodynamic counsellor specialising in working with children and young people, I believe in the power of creative play techniques to facilitate healing and growth. My approach is rooted in understanding the unconscious processes that influence behaviour and emotions, providing a safe space for exploration and expression.

Approach:

I utilise a variety of creative play techniques, including art, storytelling, role-playing, and sandplay, to help children and young people communicate their thoughts and feelings in a non-verbal way. Through these modalities, I aim to uncover underlying conflicts, traumas, and emotions that may be impacting their well-being.

Philosophy:

I believe that every child and young person is unique, with their own set of experiences and challenges. My approach is tailored to meet the individual needs of each client, fostering a trusting therapeutic relationship where they feel understood, supported, and empowered to explore their inner world.

Goals:

My goal is to facilitate self-awareness, emotional regulation, and resilience, helping children and young people develop healthy coping strategies and navigate life's challenges with confidence and clarity. Together, we work towards fostering positive growth and facilitating lasting change.

Experience:

With years of experience working with children and young people from diverse backgrounds, I have witnessed the transformative power of psychodynamic counselling and creative play techniques firsthand. I am committed to continuing my professional development and staying abreast of the latest research and best practices in the field.

Get in Touch:

If you believe that your child or young person could benefit from psychodynamic counselling and creative play techniques, I invite you to reach out. Together, we can embark on a journey of healing, growth, and self-discovery.

Fee- £60 per therapeutic hour 


Kriselle - Find out more below

My name is Kriselle. I am a qualified psychodynamic counsellor and a BACP registered member, specialising in working with children and young people. I offer individual one to one psychodynamic counselling for children and young people of all ages for a variety of presenting issues.


I have a passion for helping others; this is seen through my extensive experience working with children, young people, and adults prior to being a counsellor. I have worked in education settings and within the NHS. I have experience working with individuals from different backgrounds, aiding individuals to live independently and reach their goals.


I use my knowledge and professional background in the counselling sessions that I provide. By providing an honest, non-judgemental, and empathetic space for clients I am able to establish a therapeutic relationship with the clients that I see making sure that they feel seen and heard. I believe that the therapeutic relationship is the most impactful tool for change and development. Together, we can work together to build resilience and growth. 


In sessions with younger clients, I use a number of communication approaches, such as play, to better understand and assist them. I normally take a different approach with older clients, depending on what they are comfortable with. 

 

The sessions will be 50 minutes face-to-face or remote.

 

To find out more, please contact me via Kriselle.magsino@outlook.com


Fee- £60 per therapeutic hour 

Dr Liz Whiltshire - Find out more below.


Hello, I'm Liz. I'm a HCPC registered Clinical Psychologist. I have experience working with people of all ages who are presenting with a wide range of emotional, behavioural and relationship issues, including low mood and anxiety; eating disorders; emotional regulation; the impact of stressful events and past trauma.

I have a keen interest in helping parents and carers with their mental health and their relationship with their infants (babies 0-2 years) and young children.
I am a Registered Circle of Security® Facilitator. The Circle of Security Parenting™ Programme (COSP) is an attachment-based parenting programme that helps caregivers to develop a better understanding of their child's emotional needs. This programme can be helpful for parent-child relationships as well as other adults/caregivers working with children in a professional setting, such as the classroom, or foster parents. 

If you’d like more information on the programme, please visit the website: https://www.circleofsecurityinternational.com/resources-for-parents/

I am an integrative therapist, meaning I can use different types of therapy in our work together. I mainly use Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), as well as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT). I am also trained in EMDR. 

I offer a warm and compassionate space for children and/or parents. I will welcome you into a space where you can be yourself, and we can work through the difficulties together. I aim to work with you to develop an intervention plan that best meets your needs.


I can offer a free 15 minute consultation to discuss whether I would be able to offer you support. 

You can contact me via email: drlizwiltshire@gmail.com

Fee - £100 per session.

(COSP sessions are 90 minutes, all other therapies are 50 minutes) 


Student Counsellors 

We are very excited to be in a position to start offering clinical placement opportunities to student therapsits! 

Rachael Evans - Find out more below. 


I hold a diploma in counselling and a BA in Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies (with honours) and I am currently in my second-year MA in Psychodynamic Counselling at the University of Essex.


I have a passion for giving every child an equal opportunity to thrive. I have a wealth of experience working with learning difficulties, including ASD and ADHD. As a parent with a child on the spectrum, I understand the complexities of both living and working with children with additional needs.


I hold a student membership with the BACP.


Rachael will be available to see a limited number of clients towards the end of spring for a student fee of £25 


Amanda will have clinical oversight and support Rachael with her client work at CCC. 

If you are looking for long-term support from may onwards please get in touch with colchesterchildrenscounselling@gmail.com

Kate Pavey - Find out more below.

I am in my 2nd year studying for an MA in Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Counselling at Essex University. 


My background is in teaching. After studying music at university, I trained as a primary school teacher and worked in mainstream education for many years. More recently, I have worked as a music advisor, training teachers in the therapeutic and educational benefits of music and the arts. 


My freelance work still takes me into schools where I support children struggling in education. Weekly nurture groups allow children to engage in creative work together and feel supported through their difficulties. In addition, I work supporting families through therapeutic group singing. I am particularly interested in helping mothers experiencing isolation, anxiety, and depression.


As a trainee child and adolescent therapist, I am interested in helping create an environment where individuals can thrive without pressure to conform. I have worked with many children who find life difficult due to neuro-diversity or trauma. I believe that therapeutic work can help foster a sense of identity and self-confidence.


I hold a BA(hons) in music; a PGCE in primary education; a PGCert research in music education mentoring; a GradDip in psychodynamic counselling; I am a student member of the BACP. 


Kate will be available to see a limited number of clients towards mid October for a student fee of £25 


Amanda will have clinical oversight and support Rachael with her client work at CCC. 

If you are looking for long-term support please get in touch with colchesterchildrenscounselling@gmail.com

Kayleigh Hanmore - Find out more below.

My name is Kayleigh, I am a final year masters student at the University of Essex. Iam studying MA psychodynamic counselling and psychotherapy (child and adolescent). 

My passion is working with children and supporting families to provide positive outcomes. I have 13 years experience working within primary schools supporting children with special educational or behavioural needs with a Trauma informed focus.

I started my training to become a counsellor because I wanted to deeper my understanding of our internal worlds to better support the children I work with. I hold a BA (with honours) in therapeutic communications and therapeutic organisations.

I hold a student membership with the BACP.


Kayleigh will be available to see a limited number of clients for a student fee of £25 


Amanda will have clinical oversight and support Rachael with her client work at CCC. 


If you are looking for long-term support please get in touch with colchesterchildrenscounselling@gmail.com