Pie Factory Music offers free face-to-face and online counselling sessions for 13 – 18-year-olds in East Kent.
It’s thanks to our incredible community who crowdfunded for us that we are able to provide this service.
We set up our Soundcheck programme in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the rise in referrals for mental health support. Our aim is to help provide talking therapy, in a bid to fill the gap in mental health provision in East Kent.
We work with professional, qualified counsellors who are not only able to support young people with their general emotional health and well-being, but also have skills and expertise to help young people navigate racial trauma, identity, gender and sexuality.
Whilst you are waiting to access our service, support is available via the organisations below:
www.kooth.com
www.wearewithyou.org.uk/services/mind-and-body-in-kent
www.south-east-art-psychotherapy.co.uk
http://www.kentandmedwayccg.nhs.uk/mental-wellbeing-information-hub/children-and-young-people
PFM referral form – Counselling
PFM referral form – Art Therapy Group
Our counselling offer
We provide online, face-to-face counselling and group art therapy with our qualified counsellors – Michelle, Remi, and Steph; and Art Therapist Alice.
We believe that it may take a long time to recover from the challenges and trauma of 2020. This offer of free counselling for young people in East Kent is one way that we can ensure that no one is left to navigate their recovery alone.
Alan
Hi, my name is Alan and I’m a person-centred counsellor. I’m here to support you with the challenges you may be facing. Together we can explore your thoughts and feelings in a safe space, with you knowing I will not share them with anyone else.
You can bring whatever you need to talk about to counselling and I will not judge you or tell you what to do. We can explore together, in your own time, what it means to be you. If you are reading this and feel like counselling is something you might want to try, then let’s take this journey together, and make the most out of life!
Alan works in person at Pie HQ on Wednesday morning.
Alice
My name is Alice and I am an Art Therapist.
Art Therapy offers the creative process of art-making as a way for you to express your thoughts and feelings. The combination of art-making and talking provides you with a flexible and gentle approach, at a pace that suits you, which can really help when exploring more difficult emotions. You do not need any experience or skills in art-making, and the main focus will be on what the art-making process may bring up for you.
I offer a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to be heard and seen. I believe that an authentic and trusting therapeutic relationship can support you in gaining insights into yourself, as well as your relationships with others. I take an intersectional approach, and my experience is with people from socially, culturally and ethnically diverse backgrounds. I am a Neurodiversity-affirming therapist.
I have many years of experience in a range of settings working with children, adolescents, young adults and adults within schools, organisations, the community and the NHS, facilitating groups and one-to-one sessions. I also have my own private practice in Margate.
Alice will be running a new Art Therapy group on a Tuesday evening. Alice is also available for individual sessions on a Tuesday afternoon.
Libby
Hi, I am a qualified Gestalt therapist. I work mainly with young people in schools and online, and have a small private practice for adults. Being a gestalt therapist means I work in the here and now, working through how difficulties from the past may be impacting the present. I work creatively incorporating elements of art, games, Lego and sand tray work into my sessions.
Before becoming a therapist I worked for many years in residential homes with young people. I have extensive experience working with clients with ASD and other developmental disabilities, challenging behaviours, ADHD and other neurodiversity needs.
Libby works in person from Pie HQ on Friday afternoon.
Michelle
Hi, I work as a counsellor, clinical supervisor and counselling lecturer. I have my own counselling private practice where I see individuals from all walks of life, including musicians and young people.
I work with a range of themes such as ADD; anxiety; depression; phobias; trauma/EMDR; loss; addiction; smoking; confidence and assertiveness building. I offer the option of engaging verbally, creatively or both. In working creatively I include music; art therapy; dream work; worksheets; poetry and visualisation etc.
I understand that it can be a lonely journey when going through troubling times. My hope is to join you on your journey and to offer you the tools to cope better with life events. A safe space will be created where you will be listened to and talk freely about situations in your life without feeling judged.
About me: I love the cinema; kickboxing; gigs; dancing and having a good laugh. I occasionally volunteer backstage at the O2, counselling fans who are struggling with anxiety. I facilitate workshops and yearly well-being summer retreats, which are open to the public.
Michelle works in person from Pie HQ on Tuesday afternoon.
Remi
Hello! I’m a qualified person-centred therapist. What the person-centred part means is how I work with you, the client. I work to affirm your experiences because I believe deeply that my clients are the experts in their own lives. I want to hear from you about the things that affect you, the things that have brought you to a place of considering having therapy.
I believe that you best understand your inner thoughts, and the anxieties you may have, and in our sessions I’m there to listen to you. This style of therapy encourages the building of a therapeutic alliance between you and I. Our relationship is an essential feature of the work; so that you may trust me to hold space for you. I have specialised training and experience in addiction; working with ambiguous loss; racism, intersectionality, and trauma. I have worked extensively with clients from the LGBTQ+ community.
Remi works online only – various days and times are available. Remi currently has no space to take on new clients.
Steph
Hi, I have been a counsellor for 10 years, and I am trained to work with children, young people and adults. I work in schools as well as having my own private practice.
I believe in creating a safe space for people to share their thoughts, feelings and issues with me. I am really passionate about young people accessing high-quality therapy and being able to fully be themselves, and share with me so that we can work through things together. I have experience of working with a very wide range of subjects and enjoy supporting young people through their counselling journey. When I’m not working, I enjoy walking my dog, going to music festivals and spending time at the beach.
Steph works in person from her practice in Folkestone – various days and times are available.