Our lead counsellor

Gitta Strassman, MBACP

Gitta is an integrative counsellor for children and young people, and a registered member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. She has worked with children and young people for 25 years, and in that time has helped hundreds of children and their families through anxiety, anger, bereavement, friendship problems and school refusal.

Much of her work is with autistic children and children with ADHD. She knows how much effort it takes some children to get through a school day, what sensory overload looks like from the outside, and how often a child who seems fine at school is struggling badly at home. Sessions are shaped around the child, so a child who needs to move, build or keep their hands busy can do exactly that.

Her approach is play-based. The playroom at our clinic has a sand tray, shelves of small figures, paints, clay, puppets and games, and younger children often use these to show what they can't yet say. With older children and teenagers there's more conversation, plus practical ways of coping with anxiety and anger that they can use between sessions.

Gitta has worked with a lot of families across Manchester, from many different backgrounds. She speaks three languages, and children can use whichever they're most comfortable in.

At a glance

Practice	Young Minds Grow, Manchester
Lead counsellor	Gitta Strassman, integrative counsellor for children and young people
Membership	Registered member of the BACP (MBACP), no. 406991
Qualifications	Foundation Degree in Children and Young People (FdCYP); specialist training in working with autistic children
Experience	25 years working with children and young people; hundreds of families helped
Ages	3 to 18
Specialisms	Autistic children, ADHD, anxiety, anger, school refusal, bereavement and change
Where	Our clinic in north Manchester, in school, or online anywhere in the UK
Languages	Three
Checks	Enhanced DBS, fully insured, regular clinical supervision
Fees	On request; the first 15-minute call is free

Training and memberships

Registered member of the BACP (MBACP), membership no. 406991. Check the BACP register
Foundation Degree in Children and Young People (FdCYP)
Integrative counselling training, specialising in children and young people
Specialist training in working with autistic children and young people
Listed therapist with JAMH (Jewish Action for Mental Health)
Enhanced DBS checked
Fully insured
Regular clinical supervision, as the BACP requires

How we like to work

Through play

Young children make sense of things by playing, so that's where we start, rather than asking them to sit down and talk.

With neurodivergent children in mind

We don't try to make autistic or ADHD children behave like everyone else. We try to understand how they work and help them cope with a world that often isn't built for them.

With parents involved

You know your child far better than we do. Regular catch-ups mean what happens in sessions can carry on at home.

Honestly

If we're not the right help for your child, we'll tell you on the first call and suggest who might be.

Where we work

Sessions take place at our clinic in north Manchester, which is easy to reach from Salford, Bury, Whitefield and the rest of Greater Manchester. Gitta can also see your child in school, which many children find easier, and which saves you time off work and travel. We arrange this with the school's SENCO or pastoral team. And we offer online sessions by video to families anywhere in the UK, which many teenagers prefer.

Book a free 15-minute call

A small counselling practice for children and teenagers