This research explored the way that young people experience counselling services. Interviews were conducted with 63 young people aged 13–18 who had used a variety of services.

A thematic analysis identified that there were common priorities for participants across the different services including their need to keep control; not to have their parents involved; to have a relationship with a counsellor which was more like a friendship than a professional relationship; to talk freely and be listened to; and to have the service be accessible and flexible enough to fit around their lives.

Gibson, K., Cartwright, C., Kerrisk, K., Campbell, J., & Seymour, F. (2016). What young people want: A qualitative study of adolescents’ priorities for engagement across psychological services. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 25(4), 1057-1065.

Gibson, K., & Cartwright, C. (2014). Young clients' narratives of the purpose and outcome of counselling. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 42(5), 511-524.

Gibson, K., & Cartwright, C. (2014). Young clients' narratives of the purpose and outcome of counselling. British Journal of Guidance and Counselling, 42(5), 511-524.

Knight, K., Gibson, K. & Cartwright, C. (2018). ‘It’s like a refuge’: Young people’s relationships with school counsellors, Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, 18, 4, 345-411.

In recent research we also explore how young women experience using antidepressants. You can read it here:

Wills, C., Gibson, K., Cartwright, C. & Read, J. (2019). Young women’s selfhood on antidepressants: ‘Not fully myself.’  Qualitative Health Research.