On 4 September, Rowe Therapy turned one. After three years of training and further years working within a community counselling charity, this was my first year doing it entirely on my own terms — and it taught me more than I expected, about imposter syndrome, uncertainty, building support on purpose, and trusting my own voice in the room.

Today is A-level results day. As a counsellor who works with teenagers, I see what really happens beneath the surface of this day: grades quietly fusing with self-worth, results-day comparison on social media, and reactions that range from relief to a genuine sense of loss. This piece looks at A-level results day anxiety from a counsellor's perspective, and what actually helps teenagers and their families through today and the days that follow.