That time of year has come round again, when students across England wait for their A Level results on Thursday 13th August 2026, followed a week later by GCSE results on Thursday 20th August.

In my work as a person-centred counsellor, I have supported hundreds of young people, and many parents, through this nerve-wracking time. One theme that always seems to permeate is that there is no single way a young person will react on results day. But if they are met with acceptance and a non-judgemental attitude from us as parents and carers, that is what will be remembered long after the envelope — or these days, the results email — is opened.

For many young people, results day can feel like an all-or-nothing situation. It is not uncommon for them to catastrophise, believing their world is coming to an end if they don't achieve the results they need. A 2025 survey by the UK charity YoungMinds found that among 15–18-year-olds who struggled to cope with exams, 13% reported suicidal thoughts and 13% reported self-harm.

It helps to remember that a young person's threat system becomes more active in the run-up to results day. Stress hormones can increase, and the thinking part of the brain — the prefrontal cortex — is still developing into the mid-20s. That makes logical thinking and planning harder, and catastrophising is more likely to take its place.

Signs to look out for in how a young person is coping include:
Struggling with sleep
Feeling sick
Loss of appetite
Difficulty concentrating

In my therapy work with young people, and in helping parents support them, I often emphasise how important it is that they feel accepted and valued whatever their exam grades turn out to be. In person-centred counselling, this is called unconditional positive regard — the opposite of conditional worth, which ties a young person's value to achieving certain grades.

So how can we, as parents and carers, help?
Make sure our own emotions are regulated first
Take a step back before reacting
Listen to understand
Avoid comparing to siblings' or friends' children
Focus on next steps

One exercise young people and parents or carers can do together is to look at the circle of control — thinking about what we can control, such as our actions, effort and behaviour, and letting go of what is out of our control when it comes to results day.

Getting the grades remarked, if they are close to the threshold
Resitting
A different college or university
An apprenticeship
A year out

I often remind young people that their skills and resilience as human beings are not tied to grades alone, and that life very rarely leads in only one direction. When things don't go to plan, it is okay to feel loss and disappointment — but this can also be a learning opportunity, a chance to trust in our own ability to find the right path again.

In my therapy work with young people, results day is one of the few times I allow myself to self-disclose about my own journey. I do this for a few reasons: to show a deeper level of empathy, to strengthen the relationship, and to show that there is hope — and that I am human myself, not merely walking the walk.

How professionals, parents and carers respond to young people at this time is crucial. Long after the grades themselves are forgotten, the feeling of being accepted and supported through it will always be remembered.

Lisa Norfolk

Lisa Norfolk is a person-centred counsellor and psychotherapist. She’s been in practice since 2006, working with young people (11+), adults and parents in Leeds as well as online/over the phone.

As well as working as a counsellor at The Market Place charity in Leeds for 20 years, she has supported young people, families and adults at The Samaritans and other charities. This includes extensive bereavement, crisis, creative and parent/family work. She continues to work as a counsellor with young people and parents.

Her aim is simple: A safe, boundaried space where someone can be heard, make sense of what’s going on, and move at a pace that fits them. Lisa often brings in creative approaches, such as drawing, objects or writing, when words are not quite enough. Her practice is trauma-informed and rooted in autonomy and choice.
https://www.lisanorfolkcounselling.com/
Instagram lisanorfolkcounselling

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