For Young People
Therapy & Mindset Transformation
Tana Macpherson-Smith is a highly experienced therapist, mindset transformation coach, and former teacher who has spent over 30 years working with children, teenagers, and young adults. Her unique, integrated approach combines therapeutic insight with future-focused coaching, helping young people release trauma, build confidence, and develop the inner strength to thrive.
Is Your Child Struggling – and You’re Not Sure How to Help?
As a parent, it’s heartbreaking to watch your child suffer. You might notice your child withdrawing, lashing out, avoiding school, battling anxiety or low mood, or simply seeming lost. They may struggle with friendships, feel like they don’t fit in, or carry invisible emotional pain from grief, loss, or family breakdown. You may have tried to talk – but been met with silence, frustration, or tears.
You are not alone.
These are some of the most common challenges I help young people work through:
The Monkey Wisdom Approach
Tana works with clients from primary school to age 25, supporting them through a wide range of emotional challenges – from anxiety, depression and low self-esteem to school refusal, friendship issues, grief, family separation and identity struggles. She gently helps them uncover the root causes behind what’s holding them back, often drawing on early life experiences to create powerful, lasting change.
What makes Tana’s work stand out is her ability to connect deeply and authentically with young people. Having lived through significant trauma herself, she shares openly and honestly – creating a safe space where brave conversations can happen. Using her signature Monkey Wisdom techniques, she brings emotional learning to life with engaging tools that empower young people to take responsibility for their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.
My Approach – More Than Therapy, More Than Coaching
I blend trauma-informed therapy with dynamic, forward-focused coaching – because young people need both healing and practical tools for growth. I meet each child or teen where they are, creating a space that is safe, non-judgemental, and filled with curiosity and warmth.
Through gentle conversations, creative exercises and my signature Monkey Wisdom tools, I help them:
This isn’t about labels or quick fixes – it’s about helping your child discover who they are, and who they’re capable of becoming.
Tana Macpherson-Smith
How Therapy Works
How Therapy Works
Free 30-minute discovery call
In an ideal world, I love working face-to face with my clients. For those who live further afield, where possible, it is helpful to at least begin with a face-to-face session. Meeting in person – especially at the start – helps to build trust, safety, and rapport. Many of my clients attend sessions in my peaceful therapy cabin at my home in Bletchley, Milton Keynes. It’s a calm, welcoming space where young people often tell me they feel instantly at ease.
However, I work with children, teenagers, and young adults from across the UK, and I’ve found that online sessions via Zoom can be just as powerful. If your child is comfortable with Zoom, distance is no barrier. For younger or more nervous children, parents are warmly encouraged to sit in on the call at first – until your child feels confident enough to continue on their own.
Sessions typically last 60 minutes, though for younger children (particularly online), 30-minute sessions may be more appropriate.
The number of sessions needed varies from one child to the next – every young person’s journey is unique.
