You have been trying to land a kickflip for a while but your problem is that you keep flicking down instead of up and out is there any strategy to help you change the way you flick?

The key to remember is that the kickflip is an ollie variation. You have to make a conscious effort to perform the same movement with your front foot as you do with an ollie, a little closer to the heel edge of your board. Unfortunately you have to relearn kickflips as what you're doing isn't even close to a proper kickflip.