CHILDREN, YOUNG PEOPLE & FAMILIES

We provide specialist, trauma-informed counselling and therapy for girls, young women and children aged 4 to 24 who have experienced rape, child sexual abuse, sexual violence or related trauma at any point in their lives.

This includes play and creative therapy for children aged 4+, and counselling for young people from 12–24 who need a safe, structured space to begin processing what has happened.

Support is available to those who live, study, work, or are under the care of services in our South London boroughs:

Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich Kingston upon Thames, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Southwark, Sutton and Wandsworth.

Need to make a referral?

For referral information, please contact: CYPCounsellingAdmin@rapecrisissouthlondon.org

If you study, or receive support in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton or Wandsworth, you may also be able to access support through the South West London Child Sexual Abuse Service.

Learn more

what we offer

  • AGE: 4+

    Children do not always have the words to explain what has happened or how they feel. Play, art and creative work can help children express themselves safely and at their own pace.  

    We offer specialist trauma-informed play therapy for children aged who have experienced sexual abuse, sexual violence or related trauma, facilitated by qualified trauma therapists with experience of working therapeutically with children.

  • AGE: 12–24

    Talking therapy offers a safe, confidential space for young people to explore their feelings, thoughts and experiences at their own pace.

    We offer up to 30 counselling sessions which can take place online, by phone, face to face at our Croydon centre, in an education setting, or at one of our community hubs.

    Counselling will look different for each young person, depending on their age, needs, experiences and what feels safe and helpful for them.

  • AGE:

    Grounding and stabilisation support is usually offered as a short block of up to 6 sessions. These sessions focus on helping young people manage difficult feelings, flashbacks, anxiety or feeling overwhelmed. This work does not involve deeper trauma processing, but can help young people feel more present, safe and able to cope.

  • We offer supportive sessions for parents and carers of children and young people accessing our service. This space can help you better understand the impact of trauma, explore ways to support your young person, and feel supported yourself throughout the therapeutic journey (when available).

  • We offer therapeutic and support groups for children, young people, and families where appropriate. Groups provide a safe and supportive space to connect with others, build confidence, reduce isolation, and explore recovery through shared experiences and guided activities (when available).

Our approach

gentle & empathetic

RCSL Stars
RCSL Stars .

Our counselling is shaped by our values, trauma-informed practice, and each young person’s individual needs. We aim to match each young person with a therapist who has the right skills, experience and availability to support them safely.

PROFESSSIONAL

RCSL Stars .

Our counselling is provided by qualified, specialist trauma therapists with experience of supporting survivors of rape, sexual abuse and sexual violence. Our therapists work in line with recognised professional and ethical frameworks, including bodies such as BACP, UKCP and other relevant counselling and psychotherapy organisations.

RESPECTful & HONEST

We know that trusting someone can feel difficult, especially after sexual violence or abuse. We will move at your pace, never pressure you to talk and be honest about how counselling works, and provide support throughout the process.

what to expect

    • Be supportive and understanding

    • Help you to explore your feelings, thoughts and experiences relating to your experiences of sexual violence at your pace

    • Help you accessing additional support from our CYP or Safeguarding Teams where appropriate

    • Support you to make empowered choices within our safeguarding and confidentiality boundaries about next steps

    • Call emergency services if you are being seriously harmed by yourself or someone else whilst in a

    • Judge or tell you what to do 

    • Minimise or dismiss your feelings

    • Force you to continue if it feels too difficult. If therapy feels too hard at first, our offer of support will remain open so you can return when you feel ready

    • Make decisions about you without explaining what is happening. If there are concerns about safety or safeguarding, your therapist will explain what may need to happen and involve you as much as possible.

  • What a young person shares in counselling is treated with care and respect. Your counsellor will talk with you about confidentiality at the start of counselling, including what can stay private and when information may need to be shared.

    There may be times when we need to share information to help keep you or someone else safe, or because we are required to do so by law. However, we will always think carefully before sharing information and explain what is happening, why information may need to be shared, and who may need to be contacted.

HOW TO GET SUPPORT

There are different pathways to support, depending on the young person’s age, needs and where they live.

  • Referrals to our service can be made by:

    • Parents or carers

    • Schools, colleges or education settings

    • Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

    • Professionals including the police, social workers and health professionals

    • Other support services or agencies

    Young people aged 15+ may also be able to contact us directly to ask about counselling.

    To ask about a referral, contact: CYPCounsellingAdmin@rapecrisissouthlondon.org

  • If the child or young person lives, studies, or is under the care of services in Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton or Wandsworth, they may also be able to access support through the South West London Child Sexual Abuse Service.

    Referrals can be made by:

    • Young people (15+)

    • Parents or carers

    • Professionals, including schools, social workers, health professionals and other agencies

    To make a referral to the South West London Child Sexual Abuse Service, click here.

Frequently asked questions

  • Our Children and Young People’s Counselling Service supports girls, young women and children aged 4 to 24 who have experienced rape, sexual abuse, sexual violence or related trauma at any point in their lives. Support is available to young people who live, study, work, or are under the care of services in our South London boroughs. If you are unsure about which service is right, please contact us.

  • Once we receive a referral, we will review the information carefully to make sure our service is appropriate and safe for the young person at this time.

    We may need to talk about what support the young person wants, whether counselling feels right for them, consent and confidentiality, any safeguarding concerns, and whether a parent/carer or professional needs to be involved.

  • Rape Crisis South London is working with SurvivorsUK and Respond to deliver specialist support for children and young people affected by child sexual abuse, sexual violence, exploitation or related trauma across selected South West London boroughs: Croydon, Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth.

    It is not a replacement for our core service, but an additional pathway for children and young people in these boroughs. This service has a separate referral route from our wider Children and Young People’s Counselling Service.

    Find out more here.

  • If English is not your first language, we will talk with you about what language support may be available.

    Where possible, we will explore options for providing an interpreter. If you have been referred by a professional, such as a school, social worker, health professional or another organisation, we may ask them to help arrange language support.

    If we are not able to meet your language or access needs, we will do our best to signpost or refer you to another organisation that may be better able to support you.

  • If you are not sure which service is right for you or the young person, please contact us.

    We will help guide you to the most appropriate support based on age, location, needs and what kind of help is being requested.

  • If we are not the right service, or if we are not able to meet the young person’s needs, we will try to signpost or refer you to another organisation that may be better suited to help.