Welcome to Psychotherapy Space

Laura Piddington Therapy and Consultation Services

About me

As a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist with many years of experience, I specialise in supporting young people, and their parents/carers who have worries about emotional, behavioural, or psychological well-being. I am registered with the Association of Child Psychotherapy (ACP), and my practice is built on over 20 years working in the field, intensive training and hands-on experience in both the NHS and independent practice.

Supporting Parents Through Challenging Times

Being a parent can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also come with many worries —whether it’s about your child’s mood, behaviour, school performance, relationships, or feelings of overwhelm. At Psychotherapy Space, I offer a safe, confidential environment where you and your child can explore these concerns.

I work with children and young people of all ages to help them make sense of difficult emotions and experiences. This can be crucial when dealing with issues like anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, struggles with self-image, or challenges related to neurodiversity or identity.

But I also recognize that your experience as a parent is just as important. Many of the issues your child is facing can bring up complex feelings for you as well. Perhaps you feel unsure of how to respond, or you might be struggling with the impact these challenges have on your family dynamics. I provide a supportive space for parents and carers to understand their own feelings and develop more effective ways of communicating and connecting with their child.

What You Can Expect

Through psychoanalytic psychotherapy, I can help you and your child explore the underlying feelings and patterns that may be contributing to the difficulties you're facing. This work is not about quick fixes but about gaining a deeper understanding of emotions, behaviours, and relationships, which leads to long-term improvements.

Families who work with me often find that they develop new insights into their child’s world and their own responses, which can transform the way they manage challenges together. This work can improve communication, reduce conflict, and increase your capacity to support your child in a way that feels healthier for everyone involved.

If you’re feeling lost or overwhelmed by your child’s emotional struggles or behavioural issues, you don’t have to face it alone. Together, we can work toward a better understanding of what's going on and how to move forward with confidence and care.

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy is a specialised form of talking therapy that aims to help individuals, including children, adolescents, and adults, gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions. It focuses on exploring unconscious conflicts, unresolved emotional issues, and the impact of early life experiences that continue to influence present-day behaviours and feelings. The therapist-client relationship is key to the success of the therapy, as it provides a safe and supportive environment where difficult or painful thoughts and feelings can be expressed and worked through.

Message for Parents and Carers

I know it can feel difficult and even a bit scary to trust someone with your child’s emotional wellbeing, especially when it’s someone you don’t yet know. But building a strong, trusting relationship between your child and their therapist is key to making progress. I want to reassure you that, by deciding to move forward with therapy, you’re already taking an important first step toward a happier, healthier life for your child and your family as a whole.

If your child is struggling with tough feelings or behaviours that’s difficult to understand, Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy could help. This approach works by exploring the deeper causes of these feelings, helping your child make sense of them, and supporting the whole family in managing the challenges that arise.

I will meet with you before your child’s therapy starts, and possibly during the process, to make sure you feel involved and supported. For older adolescents, we’ll decide on the best approach together in terms of meeting parents/carers first. After an initial assessment, if therapy is the right choice, we can start weekly sessions right away.

Sometimes it can also be helpful to have separate or joint sessions with parents. I’m also open to working alongside other professionals if that would benefit your child’s progress.

If you’d like to discuss how I can support you or your family further, please feel free to get in touch. I’m here to help!

Our services

  • Individual Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy

  • Parent/Infant Work

  • Consultation and Support for Families

  • Group Therapy

  • Expert Witness Reports

  • Training and Supervision for Professionals

Learn more about our services

“Laura, I really wanted to drop you a note to thank you so much for all your work with [our daughter] over the past few years. Today she heads off to a festival, having spent last week with her sister in Brighton after safely getting through her A-levels. There was a significant part of me a few years ago that never thought we would be at this point. A huge part of where [our daughter] is, is now is down to the work you have done with her. I cannot begin to tell you how thankful we both are, and I didn't want to let that go unsaid. When we first met you, it's safe to say that we were both desperate about her safety. Thank you so much for all that you have done for [our daughter] and for our family.”

— Parent of a client