The services for parents that I offer provide an empathic and supportive atmosphere enabling them to explore and develop an increased understanding of their child’s needs and behaviour. I facilitate a sensitive exploration of the child’s life in order to maximise understanding for myself and the parent of the impact of their experiences on their relationships and the child’s view of themselves now.
I provide the following services for parents:
- Individual parent consultations – a space for parents to explore and discuss children’s behaviour with suggestions of strategies to implement at home. Follow on reviews can be offered and play programmes developed with support if appropriate. (1 hour)
- Paired parenting group – discussion and support group for pairs or small groups, as above but in a group. (1 -2 hours)
- Family play session – supported session for parent/ parents and siblings. This can be delivered as a one off session or a 6 week programme with reviews and support for parent in between sessions. This can be delivered after school or in school holidays. (45 minutes plus review time)
- Parent/child play sessions – facilitated sessions which focus on improving the parent/child relationship. This is a 6 week planned programme which can be extended. (45 minutes per week with short review with parent before and after )
- Filial Play Therapy – child centred play sessions with the child and parent which provides the parent with training and experience in a comprehensive set of parenting skills. The joint play experience and training provided for the parent helps to build healthy attachments within the family. These play sessions are then transferred to and continued in the family home.
- Stay and Play sessions – A six week intervention which provides parents with an increased understanding of their child’s needs and behaviour, along with the importance of play. The two hour session involves time training the parents, playing with their child and reflections. It involves parents implementing the play session at home on a weekly basis, alongside the programme.
Case Study
Farah had post natal depression following the birth of each of her five children. Her eldest son Jamil was in Year 6 and presenting challenging behaviour both at home and at school, including frequent aggressive outbursts, and bullying both his peers and siblings.
Farah said she had never bonded with him and that he was a constant reminder of his violent father who she had left just after his birth. She felt upset and guilty about this, as well as very anxious about his move to high school.
Jamil had 20 individual play therapy sessions with me and i had regular reviews with his mum alongside these to facilitate a more positive relationship between them. He used the sessions to work through some of his anger towards his mum who he felt didn’t have any time for him.
Towards the end of his individual sessions I suggested 6 parent child sessions for Jamil and Farah to have some time together, which would be faciliated by me. They both agreed to this and after the third session started having the sessions at home together too. I encouraged mum to get the younger children to bed earlier to create the time for this and as she could already see the benefits for both of them she agreed.
At the end of the intervention Jamil was much happier, more settled in class and enjoying the time with his mum. Farah said she felt much closer to him now and was able to see him in a more positive way. He is now settled at high school and doing well.