This page is to provide information for parents/carers and children. I will provide links to other sites which give advice etc.
Feeling Overwhelmed as a Parent/Carer? You Don’t Have to Navigate It Alone
Being a parent can be both an incredible experience and an exhausting one. It’s normal to feel overwhelmed from time to time, especially when life presents unexpected challenges or changes. Whether it’s the stress of managing work, home life, and your child’s needs, or dealing with difficult emotions in your child, it can all feel like too much to handle on your own.
Many parents find themselves facing moments where they feel unsure, isolated, or exhausted. You might be worried about your child’s well-being—perhaps their behaviour has changed, or they’re showing signs of anxiety or stress that you can’t quite pinpoint. As a parent, it’s easy to feel like you should have all the answers, but the truth is, we all need support sometimes.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, please know that you don’t have to carry the weight of it all alone. It’s okay to ask for help and to take a step back to prioritize your own well-being. When your child is struggling—whether due to school pressures, social challenges, or changes at home—it can be hard to know how to help them, especially when you’re dealing with your own stress.
I’m here to offer a safe, supportive space where we can explore what’s going on. Whether you’re struggling with your own feelings of stress or anxiety, or you’re unsure how to support your child through their challenges, I can work with you to understand what’s happening and help you both find a path forward. Together, we can create strategies for managing emotions, improving communication, and reducing stress.
You don’t have to figure everything out by yourself. Whether it’s through face-to-face sessions, phone calls, or online support, I offer flexible options that work with your schedule and your needs. Reach out today to find out how I can help, and let’s work together to bring more calm, clarity, and balance back into your family life.
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Counselling Support for Parents and Caregivers
Family is at the heart of every person’s life journey, and it’s where we first learn about the world. Whether it’s a family made up of biological relatives, adoptive parents, a close-knit neighbourhood, or a foster family, these early relationships profoundly shape who we are and how we interact with the world around us.
From the moment we are born, our family influences nearly every aspect of our development—from the language we speak, to the routines we follow, to the values we adopt. It is within these family bonds that we first learn how to love, trust, and connect with other, laying the groundwork for all of our future relationships.
Yet, families are complex. Every family dynamic—whether it’s a two-parent household, a single-parent family, a blended family, or adult children caring for aging parents—brings its own unique challenges. Sometimes, these challenges can create tension or misunderstandings, leaving family members feeling unheard, disconnected, or overwhelmed.
That’s where counselling can make a profound difference. Counselling provides a safe and supportive space where each member of the family can be heard, without judgment. Through counselling, families can explore patterns of behaviour, improve communication, and rebuild relationships. It’s about understanding each other better, resolving conflicts, and creating stronger, healthier connections.
We have extensive experience supporting a variety of family structures and understand that every family is unique. We take a compassionate and empathetic approach, offering guidance tailored to the specific needs and dynamics of each family. Whether you’re dealing with parenting challenges, adjusting to a new family member, navigating the complexities of blended families, or supporting an aging relative, we are here to help.
Our non-judgmental, caring support helps families break through barriers, rediscover harmony, and build deeper connections with one another. Our goal is to empower each family member to feel understood and respected, and to foster an environment where healthy communication and mutual respect can flourish.
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Supporting Parents/Carers and Young People Through Life’s Challenges
Parenting can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be one of the most challenging roles we take on. At times, it can feel overwhelming, and you might find yourself in need of extra support. It’s important to remember that every parent goes through difficult phases, and it’s completely normal to feel uncertain about how to navigate them.
Life is full of transitions and adjustments that can bring unexpected stress. We all experience moments when things feel hard to cope with—whether it’s changes in routine, family dynamics, or the pressures that come with school and work. For young people, the challenges can sometimes feel even more intense. Many children and adolescents face rising levels of stress and anxiety, especially during times like exam periods, but the root causes of their feelings may not always be so clear. They might be struggling with social pressures, personal issues, or changes at home that you might not even be aware of.
If you’ve noticed shifts in your child’s behaviour, such as withdrawing, acting out, or seeming more anxious than usual, it could be a sign that they are dealing with emotional challenges they’re not yet able to express. Their behaviour might be a way of communicating that they are struggling with something, even if they can’t fully articulate what it is. This is where support can make a significant difference.
If you or your child are facing difficult emotions or challenging situations, I offer a compassionate, non-judgmental space to explore what’s going on. Together, we can work to identify the underlying issues and develop strategies to manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve coping skills. My approach is tailored to meet your family’s needs, whether that’s helping you better understand your child’s feelings, teaching your child ways to cope with anxiety, or offering guidance on improving communication within your family.
I offer flexible support options, including face-to-face sessions, phone consultations, and online therapy, to make it easier for you to access the help you need in a way that works best for your family’s schedule. You don’t have to navigate these challenges alone—reach out for more details, and let’s work together to find a path forward.
How Can Counselling Help My Child?
Many young people; can face significant challenges with their emotions and mental well-being. They may be struggling with friendships, family issues, school pressures, or personal feelings of anxiety, depression, anger, or fear. The pressure to perform well in school, the stress surrounding exams, and the expectations they place on themselves can often feel overwhelming. Additionally, significant life events such as the loss of a loved one or a family breakup can leave them feeling lost or uncertain.
In times like these, children and teenagers often find it difficult to talk to family members or friends, even if they desperately need someone to listen. They may feel misunderstood, embarrassed, or afraid of being judged. This is where counselling can offer real support.
A counsellor provides a safe, neutral space where your child can express their feelings without the fear of judgment or concern about burdening others. Talking to a professional can help your child work through their emotions and challenges in a confidential setting—unless their safety is at risk, in which case the counsellor will take necessary steps to ensure they are protected.
Counselling can be especially helpful when your child is feeling overwhelmed by schoolwork or exam stress. The pressure to succeed academically can be a major source of anxiety, and young people often don’t know how to manage these feelings. A counsellor can help them develop coping strategies for stress, time management, and self-care, empowering them to handle academic challenges with greater confidence and calm.
Through therapy, children and teens can gain a deeper understanding of themselves, build resilience, and develop healthy ways to approach both their personal and academic struggles. This process not only helps them feel more confident in the present but also sets them on a path toward a brighter, more balanced future.
If you feel your child could benefit from counselling, I am here to help. Please contact me to arrange an appointment with one of our qualified counsellors, who have extensive experience working with children and young people facing a range of challenges, including academic pressures and exam-related stress.
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Children’s Mental Health
With 75% of mental health problems in adult life (excluding dementia) starting by the age of 18.1 – it’s clear that the sooner you can spot the signs in childhood, the better.
We’ll help you understand the signs and behaviours that could point to a child or young person needing support to maintain their mental wellbeing through their teenage years and into adulthood.
If you have urgent concerns about your child’s mental health and wellbeing, please speak to your GP or call the Young Minds parents helpline on 0808 802 5544 for more information please click here
I am unable to offer crisis and urgent support out of my working hours.
If you feel that you or someone’s life is at risk.
Or if someone has been seriously injured, feeling suicidal or taken an overdose and you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe. Call 111
Here is some further information and support:
Is your life or someone else’s life in danger?
If you have seriously harmed yourself – for example, by taking a drug overdose – or you feel that you may be about to harm yourself, call 999 for an ambulance or go straight to A&E.
Or ask someone else to call 999 or take you to A&E.
Making a safety plan
If you struggle with suicidal thoughts or are supporting someone else, it may help to make a safety plan to use if you need it:
- the Staying Safe website provides information on how to make a safety plan, including video tutorials and online templates to guide you through the process
- you can also get information on planning for a mental health crisis from mental health charity Mind
Children and adolescent support
Children and adolescents can struggle with their emotions and with their life styles if you are concerned or a child would like someone to be able to talk to here is some information.
Childline – for under 19s to be able to talk and get support
Tel: 0800 1111
www.childline.org.uk
Kooth – Children’s online mental wellbeing community
www.kooth.com
NSPCC – discuss or report a concern about the safety or welfare of a child.
Tel: 0808 800 5000
www.nspcc.org.uk
The Mix – free information and support for under 25s in the UK
Tel: 0808 808 4994
https://www.themix.org.uk
SOS Silence of Suicide – for everyone
Call 0808 115 1505 – 8pm to midnight Monday to Friday, 4pm to midnight Saturday and Sunday
Email contact@sossilenceofsuicide.org