Be careful on this website!!
Leaning on personal experience - I reached out to Kooth after it was recommended at a school assembly. I decided to open up about the abuse I was experiencing at home for the first time. My stepdad was abusive, but my mum was kind. When I shared this with a so-called "trained counsellor" on Kooth, their response was shocking and utterly unacceptable. The counsellor told me, "You are lucky, some people have two nasty parents but you only have one." This outrageous statement invalidated my experience and made me feel even more isolated and confused. Instead of providing support, this counsellor trivialized my abuse and made me question whether seeking help was even worth it. I was so gobsmacked I took a screenshot of which I still have!!
As a result, I was deterred from reaching out for help for another YEAR. It was only after this period of suffering in silence that I found the courage to speak to another adult, who thankfully took me seriously and provided the help I needed. The delay caused by Kooth’s irresponsible handling of my case could have severely affected my well-being.
When I reported this incident to Kooth, the response I received was wholly inadequate. While they issued an apology and claimed they would investigate the matter, it felt like a hollow gesture and I never received the outcome. Their assurance that this was not their usual approach did nothing to mitigate the harm caused by their counsellor’s reckless comment. This experience reveals a profound lack of training and sensitivity among Kooth's staff, which poses a significant danger to vulnerable youths seeking support.
Their reply :
" I am sending the following response on behalf of Dr. Lynne Green - Chief Clinical Officer at Kooth. ----------------- Dear ****, I am so sorry to hear of your experience and can understand why you are feeling so disheartened by our response to you. What you have described is not at all in line with our usual approach towards the many young people who come to us for help - far from it. As the Clinical Leader of Kooth, I can assure you that we will be looking into this further to try and understand why/how this happened. Whilst I cannot change your specific experience, I can certainly do my very best to make sure that this never happens again. I understand that you are now speaking with another member of our team and that this has been more positive; however, if there is anything else we can do to make amends, please do reach out. Lastly, I want to reassure you that we absolutely care about you and all of the young people who come to us for support and once again, I am sorry that the way you were ‘spoken’ to did not reflect that. Best Wishes, Dr. Lynne Green, Chief Clinical Officer, Kooth"
In my opinion, Kooth is a perilous platform for young people in need of mental health assistance. The counsellors are evidently not equipped to handle sensitive situations with the care and professionalism required. A single misguided interaction can cause immense harm and delay critical support, as my case clearly demonstrates.
I strongly urge anyone considering using Kooth to seek help elsewhere. This organization failed me in my time of need, and I fear it could do the same to others. Until Kooth can prove that they have significantly improved their training and support systems, I cannot, in good conscience, recommend them to anyone.
