Business Details
34 Years
experience
Free Bereavement Counselling for Young People
Established in 1992 by a group of concerned parents, Youthlife has dedicated over three decades to supporting children and young people aged 5 - 25 affected by bereavement, separation, or loss. Our team of qualified counsellors and art therapists, all holding accredited qualifications in child and youth counselling, deliver free 1:1 therapy sessions and structured group programmes. We operate from our centre in Derry and extend our services to schools, youth clubs, and community venues across Northern Ireland. Our peer mentoring initiative, led by trained volunteers with lived experience of loss, fosters relatable support networks for young people. We collaborate with GPs, schools, and mental health teams to ensure early intervention, addressing the rising suicide rate in Northern Ireland through preventative emotional care.Adhering to the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) code of practice, we maintain rigorous professional standards while offering a confidential, non-judgmental space for healing. Our outreach programmes and workshops, including anxiety management and mind-body fitness, reflect our commitment to holistic well-being. With over 250 annual referrals, we remain a vital resource for families navigating grief, combining specialist expertise with compassionate, community-driven care.
Services
1:1 Counselling
Art Therapy
Peer Mentoring
Group Programmes
Outreach Services
Anxiety Workshops
Mind Body Fit
Bereavement Support
Assessment Sessions
Shared Experience Workshops
Details
- Year established: 1992
Highlights and features
- We offer free 1:1 counselling with BACP-accredited therapists specialising in child and youth bereavement.
- Our peer mentors share lived experience of loss, creating relatable support networks for young people.
- We deliver outreach services in schools and communities across Northern Ireland.
- Our team holds advanced qualifications in child-focused counselling and art therapy.
- We collaborate with CAMHS, GPs, and schools for comprehensive, early-intervention support.
Associations and certifications
- British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP)
Services
1:1 Counselling
Our qualified counsellors provide confidential, one-on-one therapy sessions tailored to children and young people affected by bereavement or loss. Sessions occur weekly at our Derry centre or outreach locations, focusing on emotional expression and coping strategies. No prior experience or artistic skill is required, as sessions prioritise emotional safety over technical proficiency.
Art Therapy
Art therapy combines psychotherapy principles with creative expression to support young people struggling with verbal communication. Weekly hour-long sessions use art materials to explore emotions related to grief, trauma, or anxiety. This non-judgmental approach accommodates diverse needs, including those affected by family breakdown or self-harm issues.
Peer Mentoring
Trained peer mentors, aged 1625 with personal experience of loss, offer relatable guidance to younger participants. This structured programme fosters mutual understanding through shared experiences of bereavement or separation. Mentors operate under professional supervision to ensure safe, age-appropriate support interactions.
Group Programmes
Age-specific group programmes address common challenges faced by bereaved young people through structured activities. These sessions, held in schools and community venues, promote social connection while teaching anxiety management and emotional regulation techniques. Programmes adapt to participants' developmental needs across different age brackets.
Outreach Services
Our outreach team delivers counselling and workshops directly in schools, youth clubs, and community centres across Northern Ireland. This service removes access barriers for families unable to visit our Derry centre. Outreach includes bespoke programmes for schools dealing with collective grief or trauma incidents.
People
Caroline Temple
Manager
Caroline Temple leads Youthlife's operations with over 20 years' experience in child bereavement support. She oversees service delivery, strategic partnerships, and staff training while representing the organisation in mental health networks. Her leadership maintains Youthlife's focus on accessible, trauma-informed care.
Lianne
Referrals Coordinator
Lianne manages Youthlife's referral system, ensuring timely access to counselling services for over 250 annual referrals. She coordinates between schools, healthcare providers, and families to match young people with appropriate therapeutic resources. Her role maintains efficient service delivery across Northern Ireland.
Questions
What age groups do you support?
We support children and young people aged 5–25 across all our programmes.
Are your services free?
Yes, all our counselling and support programmes are provided free of charge.
How do I refer someone?
Referrals come from GPs, schools, or self-referrals via our online form or phone contact.
Do you offer online counselling?
Currently, we provide in-person sessions at our Derry centre and outreach locations.
What qualifications do your counsellors hold?
All counsellors have BACP-accredited qualifications in child and youth therapy.
How long can someone access counselling?
Therapy duration is agreed mutually between client and counsellor, typically weekly sessions.
