FOR PROFESSIONALS
Helping you to
help young people
For nearly 3 decades we’ve offered local young people a dedicated service and have an excellent relationship with schools and GPs surgeries across St Albans and District.
If you work with young people, Youth Talk can help. We want professionals to discuss Youth Talk with the young people they support – and pass on information about our service.
Helping you support your students
As a trusted partner in delivering mental health support for young people, we know the vital role their school, college or university plays in their wellbeing. And sometimes it can be tough to provide all the services that are needed. That’s where we help.
Youth Talk is a pioneering local community charity providing free, confidential counselling to 13-25 year olds in St Albans, Harpenden and surrounding villages. Young people refer themselves directly and have the chance to work through their situation with qualified counsellors who are experts at working with young people.
A service dedicated to young people
Self-referral service
If young people live, work or are in eduction in our area they can refer themself to us. No long winded pathways – they just have to complete an online form, email us or call.
Confidentiality
Youth Talk is a safe space to talk. All conversations are kept private and the young person doesn’t have to inform anyone.
Sessions from Monday to Saturday
Find out more about our services here
Completely free of charge
Quick to start
We try to see young people for an initial meeting within three weeks (quicker than other services such as CAMHS).
Longer term support available
Young people have an average of 24 sessions with us – but for those who need it we will see them for longer.
Informed by young people
We are proud that we have an active Youth Panel advising us and helping us to make important decisions about our work and the ongoing development of the charity.
Without Youth Talk things would have continued to spiral and I would have had no motivation to do any work for school or potentially even go to school
We offer a range of simple resources to help you share Youth Talk with your students – from discreet cards to posters and digital materials.
Our volunteer Schools Ambassador can also visit to deliver assemblies, small group sessions or staff briefings, helping raise awareness and make it easier for young people to reach out.
There’s also a dedicated section of our website just for young people too – making this accessible on your network can make a real difference when someone needs support.
Timely, professional help
For young people, sometimes life can feel completely overwhelming. Without someone to talk to, it can feel impossible to cope. We know that getting the right support to young people fast can significantly improve their ability to manage their mental health and wellbeing in a healthy and productive way.
Set up with the help of a local GP, for the last 25 years Youth Talk has been providing free, confidential counselling to 13-25 year olds in the St Albans area, delivered by experienced professionals without judgement.
What we offer
Self-referral service
If young people live, work or are in eduction in our area they can refer themself to us. No long winded pathways – they just have to complete an online form, email us or call.
Confidentiality
Youth Talk is a safe space to talk. All conversations are kept private and the young person doesn’t have to inform anyone.
Sessions from Monday to Saturday
Find out more about our services here
Quick to start
We try to see young people for an initial meeting within three weeks (quicker than other services such as CAMHS).
Longer term support available
Young people have an average of 24 sessions with us – but for those who need it we will see them for longer.
Stronger together
We work closely with Hertfordshire County Council, St Albans District Council and other local agencies who provide mental health services for young people.
Informed by young people
We are a charity
Since I started my counselling sessions with Youth Talk last year I have seen a tremendous amount of improvement within myself. I am so grateful to have been given this opportunity. I have been so fortunate to have my counsellor because I don’t think I would be the person I am now, compared to last year if it wasn’t for her incredible optimism and calm energy.