The Youth Fairy Halton

The Youth Fairy Halton A modern, solution focused approach to positive change for children, teens and young adults.

Hello I'm Gill, child specialist at The Youth Fairy, a growing team of solution-focused therapists who help children, teens and young adults struggling with anxiety, stress, anger, emotional control and low confidence. We use modern, brain-based approaches, including Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, that actively encourage young people to:

🧚Re-focus more on the positive aspects of

life
🧚Recognise strengths and capabilities
🧚Improve quality of sleep
🧚Engage more in positive interactions
🧚Feel more in control of their emotions

I work in a solution-focused way, which means your child won't need to relive past traumatic or negative experiences to feel better. Instead, we focus on the changes they would like to make in their thoughts, behaviours and emotional responses, paving the way for a brighter future. I work with children from 6 years to young adults, and areas I can help with include;

🧡 Anxiety
🧡 Stress and overwhelm
🧡 Low mood
🧡 Anger management
🧡 Social anxiety
🧡 Low self-esteem
🧡 Low confidence
🧡 Emetophobia (fear of vomiting)
🧡 Fears and Phobias
🧡 Exam anxiety and stress
🧡 Trauma
🧡 Self-harm
🧡 Sleep problems

⭐ Your child's well-being is my priority and I understand the importance of building trust to provide a safe environment for every individual I work with.

⭐ This is why I offer a free one-hour initial consultation, held face to face in Runcorn or online. It is not just a meeting; it is an opportunity to understand your child's concerns and for you to gain insight into the therapeutic process.

⭐ I'll explain to you and your child how the brain works to create their specific problems and what we can do to help them feel happier, calmer and more confident in themselves.

⭐ This understanding can be really motivational to children as they realise there is hope, see more clearly what we can do about it and how to promote more mentally healthy behaviours in the future.

⭐ This knowledge is super helpful for you as a parent too - it allows for greater understanding, creates a common language to talk more easily with your child about their well-being and gives you specific ideas of how you can best support the process (and beyond).

😴 You’ll also get my relaxation audio downloads to help improve any sleep problems they are having and support the process.

🧚About me🧚

Before I became a child therapist I started my journey as a key worker in a local mainstream primary school, working extensively with neurodiverse students, developing my knowledge and dedication in supporting children's social, emotional well-being to equip them with the skills to thrive in life. This led me to train and qualify in Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy, and, in addition to this, completing a Medical Hypnotherapy Diploma. I am also trained in supporting children for Emotional Based School Non-Attendance (EBSNA). Alongside my private therapy practice, I continue to deliver Solution Focused Hypnotherapy and Psychotherapy in a local school as part of their pastoral and safeguarding team. I am fully insured, have an up-to-date Enhanced DBS certificate and I am a member of the following professional bodies:

⭐ National Board for Modern Psychotherapy
⭐ National Council For Hypnotherapy
⭐ Association For Solution Focused Hypnotherapy
⭐ Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council

01/05/2026

🏃‍♂️ Sandymoor Ormiston Academy Runs for Alder Hey! 🏃‍♀️

On Sunday, June 7th, the halls of Sandymoor will be a little quieter because a huge group of our dedicated staff members will be out pounding the pavement! We are taking on the Silver Jubilee Bridge 10k and Half Marathon to raise vital funds for a cause very close to our hearts: Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Why We Are Running: 🏃🏼‍♂️🏃🏻‍♀️

While Alder Hey supports thousands of families every year, this run is personal for us. We are running in honor of two of our very own resilient pupils: Ollie and Jackson.

Both boys have been treated at Alder Hey, and we have seen firsthand the incredible care, strength, and support the hospital provides to its patients and their families. They are a huge inspiration to us, and we wanted to go the extra mile (literally!) to say thank you to the doctors and nurses who have looked after them.

How You Can Help:

Our "Caretaker Extraordinaire" Kev and the rest of the team have been training hard, but we need your support to reach the finish line. Every penny raised goes directly to Alder Hey to help them continue their world-class work.

Donate: Please visit our Givestar page here: https://givestar.io/gs/half-marathon10k-for-alder-hey

Cheer Us On: If you’re near the Silver Jubilee Bridge on the 7th, give us a wave!

No donation is too small, and every bit of encouragement helps us tackle those bridge inclines.
Thank you for your generosity and for supporting Ollie, Jackson, and the incredible team at Alder Hey!

"The strength of our school is in our community. Let’s show Ollie and Jackson what Sandymoor can do!"

01/05/2026

We are excited to share that Mrs Ireland and Miss Stockton will be taking part in the Jubilee Bridge Half Marathon on Sunday 7th June 2026 to raise funds for summer activities and outdoor provision in the Primary.

We would be incredibly grateful if any of our families and school community could support this fundraising effort by donating, if you are able, and by sharing the GoFundMe page with friends and family. Every contribution, no matter how small, will help provide enriching experiences and opportunities for our children.

Please find the link to the GoFundMe page below:

https://buff.ly/1soQLvN

01/05/2026

Such a joyful day today working in a wonderful school with 6–11 year olds 💚
So much creativity, resilience, and imagination in one room! Using a solution focused approach, it’s amazing to see how quickly children can shift their thinking, build confidence, and focus on what’s going well.
Little minds, big potential ✨

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️Such a lovely   from Donna I just had to reshare this week. Hannah engaged so well in our session and c...
01/05/2026

⭐️ TESTIMONIAL ⭐️

Such a lovely from Donna I just had to reshare this week. Hannah engaged so well in our session and clearly took a lot away with her, such a massive positive change 🤩🧚

Full testimonial below 👇👇👇
"I was first recommended Gill by a family member as being brilliant. Myself being extremely sceptical wasn't too sure if she would be able to help. I was also worried about paying for something that could potentially not make any difference to my child's mental health. I can say without a doubt that Gill truly is brilliant. She was able to help Hannah with coping mechanisms and ways to regulate her own emotions. The sessions were made fun and informative meaning Hannah engaged well and took a lot from them. Before her sessions with Gill, Hannah was walking out of lessons in school, hiding away in her room and having explosive meltdowns at home. Myself and Hannah were struggling to communicate in an appropriate manner. Resulting in us having far too much time screaming and shouting not finding any common ground. Since having her time with Gill. She can now recognise what is causing her to have these reactions and is dealing with it head on. We have a hell of a lot less meltdowns and she hasn't walked out of class in months. All massive progress and we intend to have more sessions in the future when they are needed. I would highly recommend Gill and her service; she has made such a great impact on Hannah’s mental health and our family home life. I am extremely grateful for you Gill."

* Names changed for confidentiality.

⭐️ New Blog ⭐️ Exam season is upon us, and the Association of School and College Leaders are reporting a high level of s...
29/04/2026

⭐️ New Blog ⭐️ Exam season is upon us, and the Association of School and College Leaders are reporting a high level of stress and anxiety, resulting in higher levels of requests by students to take exams in separate rooms and higher absences.

😰 At this time of year, the exams can feel all-consuming for Year 11 and 13 students (as well as University students and not to mention those of primary age sitting their SATS).

😰 This can begin to feel overwhelming and can generate stress and anxiety. If your child’s stress bucket (their day-to-day level of worry) is reasonably empty and they are usually coping well, then the tips below will help them to continue to manage the expected stress that comes with taking exams.

When we have challenge stress, which results in a release of cortisol and adrenaline, this helps us to be focused and alert and ready to take on the challenge. When this challenge stress ends, further hormones are released to let our body and brain know that we can return to “normal”.

😰 However, if the stress becomes extended, with the belief that there is no end in sight or perhaps predicting dire outcomes, then we produce more and more of these stress hormones. If your child has been struggling with anxiety for some time (or is particularly anxious about exams) then the cortisol created due to negative rumination, or forecasting, accumulates in our ‘stress bucket’ and starts to have a negative effect on the way we view and approach everyday tasks.

As adults, we will have our own experience of exams, and these may affect the information that we share with our children. For many, we know that exams have an impact on the next choices (college and university offers) but that they ultimately do not define our future. However, as parents (and teachers) motivating our children to revise and do their best, the message sitting with our teens may be that their future depends on these exams.

Now is the time to remind them that they are in exam season and this too shall pass!

So, head on over to The Parent Pad to read this week’s blog in full and find our top Fairy tips to support children and teens through this final stage of revision and into the exam halls.

Take a read here: 👇👇👇

https://www.theyouthfairy.com/tackling-exam-stress/

Following on from this weeks blog...let’s talk about PDA. ...before today, had you heard of Pathological Demand Avoidanc...
25/04/2026

Following on from this weeks blog...let’s talk about PDA.

...before today, had you heard of Pathological Demand Avoidance?

👂 Yes, I understand it well
🤔 I’ve heard of it but not sure what it means
💛 Learning more
❓ Never heard of it

Let’s gently raise awareness 👇

This   we were…Understanding big reactions 🧠🔴 When the brain senses threat, it can switch intofight, flight, or freeze…e...
24/04/2026

This we were…Understanding big reactions 🧠

🔴 When the brain senses threat, it can switch into
fight, flight, or freeze…even when we’re not actually in danger.
🟡 So we pause…✋ STOP! Ask the brain a simple question: “Am I safe right now?”
🟢 If the answer is yes, we help the body calm using breathing, grounding, and gentle focus until the brain is ready to GO again 😁

Simple tools.
Clear steps.
Helping the brain feel safe enough to reset 💙

🧚 At The Youth Fairy, we work with children and teens to build resilience from the inside out - helping them feel strong...
23/04/2026

🧚 At The Youth Fairy, we work with children and teens to build resilience from the inside out - helping them feel stronger, braver, and ready for whatever comes their way.

www.theyouthfairy.com

💛 Does it sometimes feel like everyday requests turn into big battles at home?For some children, extreme resistance to e...
22/04/2026

💛 Does it sometimes feel like everyday requests turn into big battles at home?

For some children, extreme resistance to everyday demands (like getting dressed, brushing teeth or leaving the house) can be linked to PDA (Pathological Demand Avoidance), a profile within the autism spectrum where demands trigger a strong anxiety response in the brain.

In our latest blog, we explore:
🧠 What PDA is and why it happens
🧠 How the brain’s fight, flight or freeze response can be triggered by demands
🧠 Why traditional behaviour strategies often don’t work
🧠 Gentle, practical ways parents can reduce pressure and support their child

We also share supportive, solution-focused tips such as using indirect language, offering choices, lowering demand on tough days and focusing on connection over control. 🌿

Understanding what’s happening in your child’s nervous system can be a real turning point! Shifting the question from “why won’t they?” to “what does my child need to feel safe?” 💛

The blog also includes UK organisations and support resources for parents, because navigating PDA shouldn’t feel like something you have to do alone.

📖 Read the full blog here

https://www.theyouthfairy.com/pathological-demand-avoidance-children/

⭐️ Looking for a place to find helpful tips, advice, insights and resources, to help you support your child’s well-being...
21/04/2026

⭐️ Looking for a place to find helpful tips, advice, insights and resources, to help you support your child’s well-being....

Here it is! The Parent Pad

Some of the recent topics include...

📍Helping your child adjust to a new Sibling
📍Autism Awareness
📍How to Encourage My Child to Sleep in their Own Bed

⭐️ And brand NEW BLOG every Wednesday!

☕️ So get comfy and take a read NOW

https://www.theyouthfairy.com/the-parent-pad/

At The Youth Fairy, we work with children to build emotional resilience, manage worries, and strengthen those all import...
20/04/2026

At The Youth Fairy, we work with children to build emotional resilience, manage worries, and strengthen those all important coping skills - giving their brains the best chance to grow, learn, and thrive.

Because a calm mind is a growing mind. 🌱

19/04/2026

There’s something truly special about early Sunday mornings in the countryside 🌿☀️

Today started with a gentle walk along the river, the world still quiet and unhurried. Sitting on a bench, just listening to the birdsong and the soft flow of water, it felt like everything slowed down for a moment… a chance to simply be.

🐾 Of course, our fur-babies had other ideas! 🐾

There was plenty of excitement as they leapt into the river, joyfully retrieving their favourite stick again and again, completely in the moment, carefree and full of life.

And that’s the beauty of it…
Dogs don’t dwell on yesterday or worry about tomorrow. They remind us how powerful it is to be present, to enjoy the simple things, and to reconnect with what really matters.

Maybe today is your reminder to pause, take a breath, and notice what’s good around you? 💚

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Halton

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