I recently spent the day at a counselling conference focused on children, young people and families.
What I always find interesting about these events are the conversations. The chats you have when you stop at a stand, or sit down with someone new, or follow a thread of curiosity and see where it leads.
I had a number of those conversations throughout the day, and I thought I’d share a few of them with you – because they might give you some ideas for your own practice too.
To listen to the conversations in full, please listen to the podcast here:
Books therapists are reading right now
One of the first places I stopped was the PCCS Books stand, and I was curious about what’s currently resonating with therapists.
A few themes stood out straight away.
There’s a real focus on lived experience, with books like On Being an Autistic Therapist bringing together different voices and perspectives.
There’s also a continued emphasis on identity and trauma, with titles like Black Women, Trauma and Therapy – and more work coming through in this area.
And then there are books that bring us back into the body, like Body Listening, which seem to be quietly but consistently popular.
It felt like a reflection of where the profession is moving – broader, more inclusive, and more willing to look beyond traditional ways of understanding therapy.
A research resource you might be missing
This was the part of the day that genuinely surprised me.
I discovered a research database that I’ve technically had access to for years … and didn’t know existed.
If you’re part of a professional body, it’s worth checking what resources are already available to you. You might find you can access journals and research papers without having to buy them individually.
It made me wonder how many of us are sitting on resources we’ve already paid for, but haven’t explored.
If you’re someone who wants to access professional, scholarly journals for your research or professional practice, BACP members can use the Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection through the EBSCO Information Services
The impact of social media on young people
Another conversation I had was with Kell O’Neill about social media and eating disorders.
What stood out wasn’t just the influence of social media – we already know that’s significant – but how complex it is for young people to navigate.
It’s not as simple as removing harmful content.
The internet is also where people learn, connect and find information. So the question becomes: how do we help people filter what they’re seeing?
It’s about developing the ability to question, rather than just absorb.
Do you need training to work with children?
This is something that comes up a lot – both in my work and in conversations with therapists.
Do you need specialist training to work with children and young people?
What I heard from Place2Be.org.uk is that it’s often less about starting again, and more about translating the skills you already have.
Working with children can involve more experiential ways of communicating, less reliance on verbal narrative, and a different kind of presence in the room.
And importantly, having the right support around you while you learn – through supervision and peer connection – makes a big difference.
New ways of working in therapy
One of my favourite conversations of the day was with Ellie Finch of playmodeacademy.org about using Minecraft in therapy.
Not something I expected to be talking about – but it made complete sense.
For some clients, particularly neurodivergent young people and adults, traditional therapy settings don’t always feel accessible.
Using digital tools like Minecraft creates a different kind of space – one that can feel more engaging, more natural, and easier to communicate within.
It was a really good reminder that therapy doesn’t always have to look the way we were originally trained to do it.
Saving time in private practice
And finally, something that comes up again and again in my work with therapists – time.
I spoke to Eric Lalonde of WriteUpp.com about practice management systems, and one of the key takeaways was just how much time therapists can lose to admin.
Things like scheduling, notes, payments – all of it adds up.
And when those systems are streamlined, it can free up hours each week.
Not just for seeing more clients, but for the parts of your work you actually enjoy – or even just having more space.
Eric also put my mind at rest about data security and client information, together with automated payment systems.
A final thought
What I came away with was a sense of how much the profession is evolving:
- there’s more openness to different ways of working
- more attention to lived experience and identity
- and more awareness that the practical side of running a practice matters too.
But perhaps most of all, it reminded me that some of the most useful insights come from simple conversations.
If you’d like support with your practice
If you’re thinking about how to apply some of this to your own practice – whether that’s getting clearer on what you offer, finding clients, or deciding what your next step is – that’s exactly what we explore inside Therapy Growth Group. You’ll get peer supervision, training and coaching with other therapists in private practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do therapists need specialist training to work with children?
It can help to develop skills around non-verbal communication, experiential work and adapting your approach, together with important issues such as safeguarding. Support and supervision are key.
How can therapists access research articles?
Check what’s included in your professional memberships. BACP offers access to journals and research in the Psychology and Behavioural Sciences Collection, available on its website via EBSCO Information Services.
What are new approaches in therapy?
Creative and digital approaches are becoming more common, including using tools like video games to support communication and engagement.
How can therapists reduce admin time?
Using systems for scheduling, notes and payments can make a significant difference, freeing up time for client work and other priorities.