Hello and welcome

Hi there, and welcome to Ask Robyn. Thanks for getting in touch. You would like to know about free or low cost child or teen counselling. We will do our best to help.

Availability of services in Ireland

While services differ in every county, there are usually a few organisations in each area dedicated to supporting children’s and teenagers’ mental health. These are often charities funded by agencies such as Túsla or the HSE, and are therefore free of charge or low cost.

Considering your young person’s needs

We believe an important question to consider is what your child or teen needs help with, as not every organisation covers the same issues, uses the same approach, or has the same waiting times.

ISPCC services

Here at the ISPCC, we offer a range of free services to young people and their parents, both online and face to face. Our online services are available nationwide, while face to face services are limited to certain areas.

The quickest way to find out what is available in your area is to call our Support Line, which runs Monday to Friday from 9am to 1pm on 01 522 4300.

One to One therapeutic support

Young people can access one to one support through our Childline Therapeutic Support Service up to the age of 18. This service is based on a resilience model and aims to equip young people with coping skills. Sessions take place once a week for up to six months and can be delivered online, face to face, or as a combination of both.

Please note that this is not an emergency service. In situations involving high risk mental health concerns, services such as CAMHS, local Accident and Emergency departments, or Pieta may be more appropriate.

Self-guided supports

We also offer free Space From Anxiety, which is a self-guided mental health programme designed to help young people understand and manage their anxiety. A version of this programme is also available for parents who want to better understand what their teens are experiencing and how to support them.

These programmes are available online and can be completed at your own pace. Progress is monitored by the Space from Anxiety team, who provide support and feedback throughout the process.

Further information

You can find more information about these services here: ispcc.ie/our-services/

We hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to contact us again if you need further support.

Take care,

Robyn