About Us

Welcome to The Roots! We’re here to help young people in Waltham Forest feel better and face any challenges they may be facing. Since 2024, we’ve been offering free mental health support across schools and family centres in our community. We’re funded by Waltham Forest council and work as part of Groundwork London to bring you the best support possible.

We offer individual therapy for young people, Family Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and workshops in community settings and schools.

What do we offer?

Individual Therapy (Ages 11-17)

Individual therapy offers a safe and supportive space for young people aged 11–17 to talk about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Working one-to-one with a therapist, they can develop coping strategies, build confidence, improve emotional wellbeing, and manage challenges such as anxiety, low mood, stress, relationship difficulties, or school pressures. Sessions are tailored to each young person’s needs and goals.’

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a structured, evidence-based therapy that helps people understand how their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours are connected. It focuses on developing practical strategies to challenge unhelpful thinking patterns and build healthier ways of coping with difficulties such as anxiety, low mood, stress, and other emotional challenges.

Systemic Family Therapy

This involves working with you and your family to help everyone understand each other better and find ways to improve relationships at home.

Solution Focused Therapy

This is a short-term therapy that focuses on your goals and finding practical solutions to the issues you’re facing.

Single Session Workshops

These are quick one-time sessions where you can get immediate help and strategies for dealing with specific problems. Currently all our single session workshops are aimed at parents of young people.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): This is a type of talking therapy that helps you understand how your thoughts and feelings affect your actions. It’s great for dealing with things like anxiety, depression and stress. The Roots offers opportunities and tools for young people and families to develop their physical, emotional, and social skills through one-on-one sessions, group sessions, virtual resources, and peer mentoring.

Systemic Family Therapy: This involves working with you and your family to help everyone understand each other better and find ways to improve relationships at home.

Meet our practitioners

We have a fantastic team of friendly professionals who are her to support you including CBT Therapists, Systemic Family Practitioners, and Integrative Therapists. Here’s a little bit about each of them.

Katrina Jenkins

Children's Wellbeing Practitioner / Systemic Family Practitioner

My name is Katrina Jenkins, and I am a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner with Groundwork, part of the dedicated Roots team in Waltham Forest. I specialise in working with children, parents, and entire families using a family systemic approach. This method focuses on building positive communication, nurturing healthy relationships, managing conflict, and enhancing overall family wellbeing.

Within the Roots team, I lead groups for young people and offer whole-family support sessions, where parents and children can come together to receive support. My approach to making therapy engaging and effective uses talking, play, art, games and activities, tailored to each family’s needs. I also provide workshops for parents and carers, sharing ideas, strategies and knowledge that can support children’s mental health and wellbeing.

Cochisa Paul-George

Children's Wellbeing Practitioner / Integrative Therapist

Hi my name is Cochisa Paul-George and I’m a Children’s Wellbeing Practitioner at Groundwork and a member of The Roots team in Waltham Forest.

I am a qualified integrative therapist specialising in working with children and young adults. My approach is rooted in Systemic theory, Psychodynamic, Attachment theory, and a Person-centred methodology. I integrate these with solution-focused methods and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) practices to tailor my approach to the unique needs of each child.

With a wealth of knowledge and extensive experience working with children, I understand that every child is an individual with their own voice, needs, and aspirations, regardless of age. My therapeutic approach incorporates play, creativity, and empowerment through recognizing both differences and similarities. This helps build confidence, resilience, and supports the overall well-being and mental health of children.

I believe in fostering a safe and nurturing environment where children can express themselves freely. My goal is to empower children to overcome challenges, develop healthy coping mechanisms, and thrive in their personal and social lives.