Supporting Children, Adolescents & Adults with Integrative Psychotherapy

Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist

Ayalah Hirst

Welcome! I love my work and I am happy to get to introduce myself and my psychotherapy practice. 

I am a UKCP and BACP registered psychotherapist based in North West London – NW11 and NW3. I have an MA in Child and Adolescent Counselling and Psychotherapy. As an integrative psychotherapist I combine psychotherapeutic modalities to meet your specific therapeutic needs. My approach is rooted in the theories of psychodynamic, humanistic, cognitive-behavioural, Gestalt and polyvagal therapy.

I specialise in working with children, teenagers and young adults. I blend talking with game playing, art work, story telling, and sand-tray therapy. Play is super important! The GOATS (greatest of all time for those parents that don’t the know the abbreviation) of child psychotherapy, Melanie Klein, D.W. Winnicott and Anna Freud, point to play as the foundation for child expression and transformation.

When I work with adults, we mostly talk. But sometimes adults get stuck and words are inadequate. Using the imagination, in Gestalt terms,  “amplifies what is on the edge of awareness” (Skills in Gestalt. London: Sage).  

I have clinical experience supporting clients through family transitions, anxiety, depression, grief and self-harm. I have worked in primary school, secondary school, residential children’s’ homes, and for the local authority. I am also  a tutor on a UKCP masters level child and adolescent psychotherapy training in London. 

Please feel free to phone me on 07563851378 or email me: Ayalah@hirsttherapy.co.uk to scheudule a free 15 min discussion. 

How May I Help You?

I offer a confidential, thoughtful space where we can safely explore what’s going on and work together towards greater understanding, resilience, and emotional wellbeing.

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Children

Throughout my work with your child, you will stay informed --although the specific content of our session will be confidential. I believe that the parents are always the experts on their child. I am here to support the parent-child unit by giving the child a clearer voice.

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Adolescents

I have enormous respect for adolescents who are both still children and emerging adults. Adolescence is a paradoxical stage of life full of frustration and confusion. It is a time where developing self-knowledge, self-esteem and agency are critical.

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Adults

Stress, overwhelm, anger, grief and pain are heavy burdens to carry alone. I will receive you with warmth, empathy and acceptance. Together we will work towards self-awareness, better coping mechanisms and overall personal growth.

Contact me

Reading & Links

Vibrant collection of books on shelves for reading, research, and education.

  1. Excellent children’s books that have therapeutic themes to read with your children: “The Cat in The Hat”, “Caps for Sale”, “Ernest, The Moose Who Doesn’t Fit”, and “Alexander and Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day”.

  2. For an insight into adolescence: “Brainstorm: The Power and Purpose of the Teenage Brain” by Daniel J. Siegel, MD.

  3. Books that highlight the need for and the power of psychotherapy: “The Skeleton Cupboard” by Tanya Byron, “It Didn’t Start With You” by Mark Wolynn, and “The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog” by Bruce Perry and Maia Szalavitz.  

  1. Mind – Support for 11–18 Year Olds
    A directory of helplines and services for young people facing emotional or mental health challenges.

  2. NHS Mental Health Support for Children & Young Adults
    Official NHS guidance for parents and young people, including how to access services and support.

sloth, sleeping, animal, rest, sleep, cute, relax, nap, lazy, funny, pet, mammal, relaxed, wildlife, rainforest, nature, tired, jungle, sloth, sloth, sloth, sloth, sleeping, rest, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep, nap, lazy, lazy, lazy, lazy, funny, funny, tired
The sloth logo is a reference to a children's book which has been a great inspiration to me: "Slowly, Slowly, Slowly said The Sloth" by Eric Carle. This story playfully represents the serious need for self-knowledge, self-compassion, finding one's voice, and the value (too often counter-cultural) of going at your pace. Go slow and be well.