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Separation may involve bad feelings between parents. If you are unable to reach an agreement as parents, family mediation can really help you both. Unresolved parental conflict can be picked up by children which can make them confused and unhappy.

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Planned Shared Parenting Blended (Step) Families Separation or Divorce Parental Conflict Parental Wellbeing Family Mediation

Planned Shared Parenting

If you plan to have a baby together whilst not in a relationship, take the opportunity to talk about your views and ideas on how you want to raise your child.

Discuss your own childhoods together - what would you like to do the same? What do you want to do differently?

Talk about how you will support each other to build a bond with your baby. How will you make sure you help each other rest?

Talk about the practicalities of contact, money, housing and changes that might happen in the future. How will you cope with disagreements?

Agree to regular catch ups to make sure the arrangement is working and you are both working together for your child.

Your new partner may also have children. Families come in all shapes and sizes and the 'joining up' of family units is very common. If parents are sensitive to the needs of their children this can be a positive experience.

It is important to give a relationship time to be sure that you feel this is likely to be a lasting relationship before introducing children to a new partner.

Start slowly.

Relate have some good advice on managing the challenges of a blended/step family.

Discuss beforehand how you will manage any misbehaviour or disagreements between children. It is important that this is done fairly and children do not feel that there is 'favouritism'.

Separation or Divorce

Separation may involve bad feelings between parents. If you are unable to reach an agreement as parents, family mediation can really help you both. Unresolved parental conflict can be picked up by children which can make them confused and unhappy. Sometimes children can even blame themselves for the break-up.

To support children during a separation and help them with their worries, you should;

Remind them that they're loved by both parents.

Be honest when talking about the separation or divorce but keep in mind the child's age and understanding. They don't need to hear all the details or of any potential wrongdoing.

Avoid blame and don't share any bad feelings that you have about each other with your children.

Keep up routines such as going to school and specific meal times.

Let them know they can talk about their feelings with you - explain that it's okay to be sad, confused or angry.

Listen more than you speak - answering questions will help them to open up.

Parental Conflict

Whilst every relationship goes through difficult times, if children are around arguments and conflict regularly it is harmful to them.

Children who are around conflict, notice it. Even if they seem too little, or are in bed, or in another room they will know. Children are very tuned in to the world around them. They can be scared and worried when their parents aren't getting on.

Try Relate's Argument Quiz. See how you and your partner can improve the way you discuss things.

If the arguments carry on, counselling support can make a difference. You can go together or separately. It can give you time and space to work out how to improve your relationship. You might decide the relationship is over. Relationship counsellors can help you manage this as well as possible for you and your children.
Find out more about parental conflict
Parental Wellbeing

Having parents who are looking after their own wellbeing during difficult times will make a difference how children manage their own feelings. You are not alone in how you are feeling.
Read more about parental wellbeing
Family Mediation

Family mediation is like having a helpful guide when parents are having a tough time making decisions, especially if they're going through a separation or divorce. Think of it as a support system that makes things a bit easier to understand.

Here's the lowdown:

1. It starts with just you and the mediator: The first meeting will just be with you and the mediator; the mediator will make sure you have the right support and know what options are best for you and your children.

2. Keeping Things Civil: Mediators make sure that when parents talk, it's in a calm and respectful way. They're like peacekeepers, helping everyone communicate better.

3. Putting Children First: Mediators remind parents that the focus is on the kids. They help figure out important things like where the kids will live and how much time they spend with each parent.

4. Teamwork Tactics: Family mediation encourages parents to work together like a team, even if they're not a couple anymore. It's like having a game plan for parenting, and the mediator shares tips on being a good parenting team.

5. Sorting Emotions: Sometimes, adults go through tough feelings during a separation. Mediators let them talk about their emotions and help them find ways to feel better so they can be the best parents possible.

6. Creating a Plan: If mediation is successful, you leave the process, though you can go back if you have more decisions to make, with a parenting plan or document that both parents have agreed to.

Depending on your income mediation may be free with Legal Aid or government vouchers.

And here's the big deal: Family mediation is usually the first step for most couples. It's like a starting point before things get all serious and they have to go to court to settle their disagreements. So, it's like giving everyone a chance to work things out calmly and together before it gets more complicated.
The Family Mediation Trust

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Whether separated, divorced or lone parenting, find Just One Norfolk advice on how to create supportive childcare arrangements and strategies to help if you struggle to find a parenting balance.

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Being a single parent can bring many rewards, and also new challenges. Whether you’ve just become single, or are about to be, or have been for ages, it’s good to inform yourself so that you can make the best decisions for your family.

Here we offer advice, support and information around some of the most common topics single parents ask us about.

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Skip to content

Being a single parent can bring many rewards, and also new challenges. Whether you've just become single, or are about to be, or have been for ages, it's good to inform yourself so that you can make the best decisions for your family.

Here we offer advice, support and information around some of the most common topics single parents ask us about. If you'd like to explore any of these areas in more detail, you can talk to us through our helpline or webchat. You can also chat with and meet other single parents by joining the Gingerbread Community.

Use the filters to find information that suits your single parent journey. You can favourite content to come back to later by clicking on the heart outline. You will find your favourite content by clicking 'Saved Pages' at the top right of the webpage you're on.

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Free online information and advice for single parents - covering everything from benefits to managing a separation to family wellbeing.

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Young Minds - Divorce and Young People's mental health

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Young Minds - Divorce and Young People's mental health

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Information and advice to support your family while you're going through divorce or separation. We've got tips for telling your children, looking after their wellbeing and taking care of yourself.

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How can I help my child through my divorce or separation?

Every child and young person's experience with the loss of their known family unit will be unique, but it can sometimes cause intense emotional distress.

In the immediate aftermath of a break-up, children's early responses can involve a number of defence behaviours, including: denial, disbelief, dissociation, hyperactivity, irritability and protest, alarm and panic. Over time, children may experience grief and display behaviours and emotions that indicate yearning and pining, sadness and depression, anger and hostility, anxiety, guilt, shame and despair. Even if children feel relieved at a family break-up where violence is a significant factor, most children will still feel some loss and grief.

There are things you can do to improve the way your child copes with the changes going on around them.

Things that may really make a difference:

Tips and advice from our Parents Helpline

Download our full Parents Helpline guide to divorce and separation

For more information and advice, you can download our full Parents Helpline guide to divorce and separation. The guide includes:

information about how children of different age groups may react to - and cope with - their parents divorcing or separating

advice on how you can support your child through a parental break-up

a list of helplines and services you can use

Supporting children through divorce or parental separation | YoungMinds Parents Lounge

The impacts of parental alienation and emotional abuse

A parent who turns their child against their other parent by bad-mouthing, belittling the other adult, limiting contact between them, forbidding discussion about them, creating the impression the parent does not love the child or forcing the child to reject the parent is becoming increasingly common and can do significant damage to children's mental health.

The Chief Executive of the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS), Anthony Douglas, recommended in February 2017 that parents who use this type of 'alienation' should be considered guilty of neglect or emotional abuse.

You may also find helpful...

Where to get further support

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Divorce & Young People's Mental Health | Parent Guide

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When parents divorce, it can have a big impact on a child's mental health. Read our advice on looking after your child's wellbeing through a separation.

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Picture books that gently explain divorce and separation to young children, to help them get a sense of what’s happening. Some books acknowledge the emotions that children can experience at this potentially turbulent time.

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Little Parachutes * children's picture books about

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Picture books that gently explain the issues surrounding divorce and separation to young children, to help them get a sense of what's happening.

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Many autistic people experience differences in how they eat. Someone may have strong preferences and dislikes around food but that does not necessarily mean they have an eating disorder.

Evidence suggests autistic people are at higher risk of developing eating disorders, such as anorexia or Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), compared to non-autistic people.

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Eating, eating disorders and autism | What is autism? | Autistica | Autistica

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An introduction to eating behaviours in autistic people, and how eating disorders affect some autistic people.

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Reading and learning about mental health reduces the stigma of mental health concerns through early exposure. Providing age-appropriate mental health books can make a difference in a child’s academic, behavioral, and emotional success.

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Teenagers sometimes need guidance, whether they want to admit it or not. Fiction is a subtle way to show them characters in similar situations, while non-fiction is more direct in offering suggestions and advice. This list is a combination of the two, for when they might benefit from an objective viewpoint.

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Teenagers sometimes need guidance, whether they want to admit it or not. Fiction is a subtle way to show them characters in similar situations, while…

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Little Parachutes is the World’s most useful (and friendly) collection of Parachute Books: picture books that help children cope with worries, health issues and new experiences (big and small).

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Little Parachutes: Picture books to help children

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Little Parachutes helps you to find children’s picture books about your child’s worries, experiences and milestones. Our children’s book reviews library contains hundreds of picture books about sharing, moving house, starting school, potty training and the arrival of a new baby. There are also children’s books about more challenging situations: bereavement, adoption, divorce and serious illness.

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Norfolk Steps Positive behaviour online sessions for families

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Norfolk Steps Positive behaviour online sessions for families

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The Norfolk County Council Steps team have developed a series of online sessions to support families. The sessions are created using tested methods and approaches already used in schools.

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Here at Just One Norfolk, we understand how much sleep and behaviour play a role in the development of children and young people. Read more about this here.

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Across the county, there are a wide range of those additional services available depending on the need / location.

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A list of available services in Norfolk for victims of domestic abuse and information for carers

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Norfolk has lots of support services for Armed Forces personnel and their families.

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Support services for military and defence personnel and their families including: the Armed Forces Covenant, childcare, employment, finance, housing, pensions and compensation and welfare support.

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Support services for military and defence personnel and their families

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Support services for military and defence personnel and their families including: the Armed Forces Covenant, childcare, employment, finance, housing, pensions and compensation and welfare support.

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SSAFA, the Armed Forces charity is a trusted source of support for serving personnel, veterans and their families in their time of need.

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Welfare and wellbeing support for serving Armed Forces personnel, veterans, and their families in their time of need, so they never battle alone.

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Never Such Innocence provides tools for children and young people (9-18) to reflect on the realities of war and conflict. We are nurturing the next generation of thinkers, leaders and peacebuilders through the arts; inspiring cultural exchange and dialogue.

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Artwork Credits:
Top banner, left to right: From My Hands to Yours, Suha Suha Art Studio, USA; Life After Conflict, Jinghan Z, China; Metanoia, Ahyeon K, South Korea; Pray and Move Forward, Coco Y, USA; The Cost of Survival, Katie H, Scotland; Release, Zichang L, China.
9 Squares: 1- Life After Conflict, Jinghan Z, China; 3 - Ukraine, Artem G, Ukraine; 5 - Pray and Move Forward, Coco Y, USA; 8 -Christmas Truce, Yuheng Y, Canada; 9 -Untitled, Keda C, USA.

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Artwork Credits: Top banner, left to right: From My Hands to Yours, Suha Suha Art Studio, USA; Life After Conflict, Jinghan Z, China; Metanoia, Ahyeon K, South Korea; Pray and Move Forward, Coco Y, USA; The Cost of Survival, Katie H, Scotland; Release, Zichang L, China.

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Supporting Military Families

A small charity with a big heart doing the very best for all the children of our British Armed Forces.

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April is international month of the military child Find out more here ENTER NOW our Through Our Eyes photo competition Find out more here Supporting all children of our British Armed Forces Little Troopers is a registered charity supporting all military children who have parent(s) serving in our British Armed Forces, regular or reserve.

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Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA)

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Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA)

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The Respect Young People's Programme (RYPP) is a structured intervention for families where children or young people aged 8-18 are abusive or violent towards parents or carers. It aims to reduce harm and rebuild respectful relationships through collaborative, therapeutic support.

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Our team has decades of experience in supporting LGBT+ people who are victims of domestic abuse, sexual violence, hate crime, so-called conversion therapies, honour-based abuse, forced marriage, and other forms of abuse.

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Galop works with and for LGBT+ victims and survivors of abuse and violence in the UK

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Feathers Futures is a safe and friendly place for women in Great Yarmouth.

Here, you can relax, talk, be listened to, and know you won’t be judged.

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Feathers Futures | Bringing women together | Great Yarmouth

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Feathers Futures brings women together into a connected community group, providing a safe, non-judgemental environment.

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Our confidential helpline is available for male victims of domestic abuse and domestic violence across the UK as well as their friends, family, neighbours, work colleagues and employers.

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Charity supporting male victims of domestic abuse through a helpline, directory of local services and general information on the website.

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Established in 1974, Leeway is an independent charity providing support to adults, young people and children who are experiencing domestic abuse in Norfolk and Suffolk. We operate twelve safe houses and people experiencing domestic abuse and their children are welcome to stay as long as necessary to secure a future free from a dangerous partner.

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What is domestic abuse?

Domestic abuse goes beyond violent behaviour and physical abuse. It also includes any type of sexual, psychological and financial abuse and is about a range of coercive and controlling behaviours. It also includes 'honour based violence', female genital mutilation (FGM) and forced marriages. Domestic abuse can happen in any relationship - regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion or social class or income.

If you are being forced to change your behaviour because you are scared of your partner or your family member's reaction, it's likely that you are being abused.

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Leeway | Helping You Break Free from Domestic Abuse

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Leeway provides support to adults and young people looking to break free from domestic abuse in Norfolk and Suffolk.

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DNH helps people who have experienced domestic abuse, providing them with information and support so they can take back control of their lives. All services are 100% confidential.

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Dawn's New Horizon supports male and female victims of Domestic Violence, providing a 'one stop shop' information and support service over the phone, online and face to face. We service the Broadland district of Norwich and there is always someone available to talk to in the shop.

The support we offer enables, among other things, people to take back control of their lives.

Funding for Counselling / Therapy Needed

We are always in need of funding to pay for counselling / therapy sessions with clients. We have managed to secure a small pot of money to pay for counselling / therapy sessions for new clients so are pleased to be able to receive new referrals again. Of course it won't take long before this pot of money runs out.

If you're able to support us by donating whatever you can afford, either a one-off donation or a monthly amount, please visit our Just Giving page. Every penny really does make a difference.

Item Donations Currently Needed

If you can help by donating items we currently need we would be hugely grateful. A full list of items needed can be found on our Current Appeal page. Please note that we can only accept donations when the shop is open or via arrangement.

We are here for you if you are still experiencing the effects of the coronavirus situation. We offer advice, information and counselling and we deliver FREE food parcels in the Norwich area. If you need help please visit us in the shop or call us on the number above.

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Dawn's New Horizon | Domestic Violence Support Group

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Dawn's New Horizon supports male and female victims of Domestic Violence, providing a 'one stop shop' information and support service over the phone, online and face to face. We service the Broadland district of Norwich and there is always someone available to talk to in the shop.

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INTRODUCING THE DAISY PROGRAMME

We are a registered charity supporting adults living with or who have been affected by Domestic Abuse in the Breckland area.

​Since 2015 we have run support programmes and groups in various locations in Breckland.

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Daisy Programme & Rowan Project | Norfolk | For Survivors of Abuse

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Daisy Programme and the Rowan Project works with survivors of domestic abuse, domestic violence or sexual abuse in the Breckland area of Norfolk.

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NIDAS - Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service

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NIDAS - Norfolk Integrated Domestic Abuse Service

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NIDAS is a domestic abuse support service for those assessed to be at high or medium risk of harm. We also offer dedicated support for Children and Young People, recovery programmes, coordinated multi-agency support, court support, a Domestic Abuse Champion network, and training for professionals across Norfolk.

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NIDAS provides joined-up support for those experiencing domestic abuse in Norfolk, regardless of where they live in county.

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Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA)

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Child and Adolescent to Parent Violence and Abuse (CAPVA)

# data[].attributes.body
The Respect Young People's Programme (RYPP) is a structured intervention for families where children or young people aged 8-18 are abusive or violent towards parents or carers. It aims to reduce harm and rebuild respectful relationships through collaborative, therapeutic support.

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Mental Health of Children and Young People from MindEd

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Mental Health of Children and Young People from MindEd

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MindEd is a free learning resource about the mental health of children, young people and older adults.

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MindEd for Families - children and teens

Are you a parent or carer who is concerned about the mental health of your child or teenager? Do you just want some hints and tips on parenting? MindEd for Families has advice and information from trusted experts and will help you to understand what problems occur, what you can do to best support your family, and how to take care of yourself. MindEd for Families is written by a team of specialists and parents, working together. You do not need to register to use these resources.

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Are you a parent or carer who is concerned about the mental health of your child or teenager? Do you just want some hints and tips on parenting? MindEd for Families has advice and information from trusted experts and will help you to understand what problems occur, what you can do to best support your family, and how to take care of yourself.

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Helping your child with Fears and Worries

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Helping your child with Fears and Worries

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Helping Your Child with Fears and Worries 2nd Edition: A self-help guide for parents: Amazon.co.uk: Creswell, Cathy, Willetts, Lucy, Cooper, Prof Peter, Waite, Polly: 9781472138613: Books

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A clinically proven guide teaching parents cognitive behavioral techniques to help children overcome fears, worries, and anxiety affecting 15% of kids.

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This guide was developed from talking to parents and carers of young people and is aimed at helping parents, carers, other

family members and friends cope when a young person is self-harming. It includes information on the nature and causes of

self-harm, how to support a young person when facing this problem and what help is available

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Most children and young people have exams and assessments during their school years. It is normal for this to be a bit stressful. This will be more so for some children than others. Learning how to cope with pressure is an important skill.

Parents, carers and other family members often feel the strain too! This can cause a lot of conflict and stress for the whole family.

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Visit Just One Norfolk for tips for parents on how to support your child with exam stress and provide emotional support during results day.

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Norfolk and Waveney Talking Therapies provide a range of support for people with common mental health and emotional issues, such as low mood, depression, or stress. We work with you to help you make the necessary changes to improve your wellbeing and quality of life.

Our services are free and are available to people aged 16 and over living in Norfolk & Waveney.

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Wellbeing is important to us all. We want to feel good about ourselves, to get the most out of our lives and feel connected to other people. ‘Wellbeing’ means feeling more than just happy and confident, it means feeling able to cope when things get tough in our lives or when our physical health suffers.

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There is always hope

We are the UK’s largest mental health support directory. Whether you want to find a service to help you feel better or you want to support someone who is struggling, we can help.

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Pocket guide to Emotion Coaching at home

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Pocket guide to Emotion Coaching at home

# data[].attributes.body
There is always hope

We are the UK’s largest mental health support directory. Whether you want to find a service to help you feel better or you want to support someone who is struggling, we can help.

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Just One Norfolk - Emotional Health and Trauma

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Just One Norfolk - Emotional Health and Trauma

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When children or young people experience an unexpected scary or stressful event it can upset them for a few weeks after the actual event.

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Visit Just One Norfolk for advice on supporting children who have experienced trauma and the emotional after effects of a distressing event.

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Trauma Support for Children aged 11 and above

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Trauma Support for Children aged 11 and above

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Trauma is a long lasting effect of a distressing event. Find help and support if you feel unable to cope or scared on FYI Norfolk

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A searchable directory of resources and services.

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Norfolk Community Directory contains activities, services and groups to help all Norfolk residents live healthy, active and fulfilling lives.

You should find something to help you, whether you want to: keep healthy, be sociable, physically active, mentally active, raise your aspirations for educational achievement, help your community, stay independent, feel included, get involved, improve your well-being, stay safe, find suitable care and support, find help to look after your children, or get family support. We also provide information which supports the Local Offer, Care Act and Childcare Act.

For help with how to search listings, improve listings or to get listed, go to ' About Norfolk Community Directory'.

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Norfolk Community Directory contains activities, services and groups to help all Norfolk residents live healthy, active and fulfilling lives. You should find something to help you, whether you want to: keep healthy, be sociable, physically active, mentally active, raise your aspirations for educational achievement, help your community, stay independent, feel included, get involved, improve your well-being, stay safe, find suitable care and support, find help to look after your children, or get family support.

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Book: Can I tell you about Selective Mutism?

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Book: Can I tell you about Selective Mutism?

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A guide for friends, family and professionals.

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Meet Hannah - a young girl with selective mutism (SM). Hannah invites readers to learn about selective mutism from her perspective, helping them to understand what it is, what it feels like to have SM, and how they can help. This illustrated book is packed with accessible information and will be an ideal introduction t

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The Smart but Scattered Guide to Success
How to Use Your Brain's Executive Skills to Keep Up, Stay Calm, and Get Organized at Work and at Home

by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Published by Guilford Press

Meeting a huge demand, Peg Dawson and Richard Guare (authors of the bestselling Smart but Scattered books focusing on kids and teens) now provide a state-of-the-art resource specifically geared to adults. Drs. Dawson and Guare offer expert guidance for boosting executive skills-the core brain-based abilities needed to get more done with less stress. Readers will be drawn in by realistic examples, self-quizzes, and science-based tools for strengthening time management, organization, emotional control, and more. And what you can't change, you can work around! The book is packed with simple yet effective strategies for maintaining focus, conquering clutter, staying on top of work demands, and taming the chaos of family life. Numerous worksheets and forms (which purchasers can download and print in a convenient 8½" x 11″ size) help readers customize the strategies to fit their needs.
Read Reviews

The Work-Smart Academic Planner, Revised Edition
Write It Down, Get It Done

by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Published by Guilford Press

From executive skills experts Peg Dawson and Richard Guare, the large-format academic planner that has helped thousands of students in grades 6-12 is now revised with a more streamlined design. It provides an all-in-one resource for keeping track of assignments and due dates while developing the crucial executive skills needed to succeed in school and beyond. Students are given the tools to get organized, manage their time, learn study strategies, create daily/weekly study plans, and stay on track. They are also guided to evaluate their own executive skills in order to target their weaknesses and capitalize on strengths. In addition to simplified planner pages, the revised edition has an improved Studying for Tests form. [Add for targeted Special Ed, Child Psych, and Literacy promos only; not for Web: The planner is ideal for implementation with individual students or schoolwide, and is a valuable recommendation for teachers and parents.]
User-friendly features:

Convenient spiral binding.

Three-hole punched to fit in a binder; the revised edition is even slimmer and easier to use.

Reproducible planning forms; purchasers can download and print extra copies.

Undated daily and monthly calendars for one academic year.

Three-year reference calendar

Online-only User's Guide for school psychologists, educators, coaches, and parents.

Read Reviews

Order Now: Amazon.com Guilford Press
A discount of 20% when ordering from Guilford Press will be applied using code AF2E

Bulk Rates Available!
Contact Guilford Press
for more information.
Contact

Smart but Scattered: The Revolutionary "Executive Skills" Approach to Helping Kids Reach Their Potential
by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Published by Guilford Press

There's nothing more frustrating than watching your bright, talented son or daughter struggle with everyday tasks like finishing homework, putting away toys, or following instructions at school. Your "smart but scattered" child might also have trouble coping with disappointment or managing anger. Drs. Peg Dawson and Richard Guare have great news: there's a lot you can do to help.

The latest research in child development shows that many kids who have the brain and heart to succeed lack or lag behind in crucial "executive skills"-the fundamental habits of mind required for getting organized, staying focused, and controlling impulses and emotions. Learn easy to- follow steps to identify your child's strengths and weaknesses, use activities and techniques proven to boost specific skills, and problem solve daily routines. Small changes can add up to big improvements-this empowering book shows how.
Read Reviews

Smart but Scattered-and Stalled
10 Steps to Help Young Adults Use Their Executive Skills to Set Goals, Make a Plan, and Successfully Leave the Nest

by Richard Guare, Colin Guare, and Peg Dawson
Published by Guilford Press

Whether you're a young adult who is stalled on the journey to independence-or a concerned parent still sharing the family nest-this compassionate book is for you. Providing a fresh perspective on the causes of failure to launch, the expert authors present a 10-step plan that helps grown kids and parents work together to achieve liftoff. Learn why brain-based executive skills such as planning, organization, and time management are so important to success, and what you can do to strengthen them. You get downloadable practical tools for figuring out what areas to target, building skills, identifying a desired career path, and making a customized action plan. Vivid stories of other families navigating the same challenges (including father and son Richard and Colin Guare) reveal what kind of parental support is productive-and when to let go.

Order Now: Amazon.com Guilford Press
A discount of 20% when ordering from Guilford Press will be applied using code AF2E.

This book is available as a print or e-book from Guilford Press.

Smart but Scattered Teens: The "Executive Skills" Program for Helping Teens Reach Their Potential
by Richard Guare, Peg Dawson and Colin Guare
Published by Guilford Press

Many tens of thousands of parents have used the bestselling Smart but Scattered to teach young kids vital skills for living up to their potential. Now Drs. Richard Guare and Peg Dawson apply their groundbreaking approach to the unique challenges of adolescence. Despite high intelligence, teens with executive skills deficits can be frustratingly disorganized, distractible, forgetful, and moody-leaving worried parents torn between micromanaging and throwing up their hands. This positive guide gives parents step-by-step strategies for promoting teens' independence by helping them get organized, stay focused, and control their impulses. Drs. Guare and Dawson-joined by Colin Guare, a young adult who has successfully faced these issues himself-present proven tools, vivid stories, and insightful tips for reducing parent-teen conflicts.
Read Reviews

Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents
Third Edition: A Practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention (The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series)

by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Published by Guilford Press

Many tens of thousands of school practitioners and teachers (K-12) have benefited from the step-by-step guidelines and practical tools in this influential go-to resource, now revised and expanded with six new chapters. The third edition presents effective ways to assess students' strengths and weaknesses, create supportive instructional environments, and promote specific skills, such as organization, time management, sustained attention, and emotional control. Strategies for individualized and classwide intervention are illustrated with vivid examples and sample scripts. In a large-size format with lay-flat binding for easy photocopying, the book includes 35 reproducible forms and handouts. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials.

New to This Edition

Chapter with guidance and caveats for developing Individual Education Programs (IEPs), 504 Plans, and multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS).

Chapters on working with students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder.

Three guest-authored chapters describing exemplary schoolwide applications.

More student centered-provides a template for involving children in intervention decision making.

Fully updated with the latest developments in the field.

This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series.

This is a new edition. See the reviews from previous editions.
Read Reviews

Order Now: Amazon.com Guilford Press
A discount of 20% when ordering from Guilford Press will be applied using code AF2E

This book is available as a print or e-book from Guilford Press.

Coaching Students with Executive Skills Challenges
Second Edition

by Peg Dawson and Richard Guare
Published by Guilford Press

With 55% new material, the significantly revised second edition of this influential resource presents a refined coaching model and an expanded set of tools for helping K-12 students live up to their potential in school and beyond. The book describes how to provide evidence-based, individualized instruction and support for kids and teens with executive skills challenges. Guidelines are provided for partnering with students and improving their performance in such areas as time and task management, planning, organization, and impulse control. Adaptations for coaching students with disabilities are discussed. In a convenient large-size format, the book features over two dozen reproducible forms and handouts; coaches can download and print additional copies as needed.

New to This Edition

Two new chapters on coaching 5- to 8-year-olds (K-3), and more material on younger students throughout.

Shows how to enhance coaching by incorporating motivational interviewing and cognitive rehearsal strategies.

Chapter of case examples, plus chapters on self-assessment for coaches and the building blocks of executive skills coaching.

Expanded content on goal setting, action planning, and progress monitoring.

Updated research and revised reproducible tools.

Executive Function Skills in the Classroom
Overcoming Barriers, Building Strategies

Laurie Faith, Carol-Anne Bush, and Peg Dawson
Foreword by Adele Diamond
Published by Guilford Press

With insight and humor, this motivating guide shows how to bring executive functions (EF) to the forefront in K-8 classrooms-without adopting a new curriculum or scripted program. Ideal for professional development, the book includes flexible, practical, research-based ideas for implementation in a variety of classroom contexts. It shares stories from dozens of expert teachers who are integrating explicit EF support across the school day. Provided is a clear approach for talking about EF barriers and strategies as part of instruction, and working as a class to problem solve, explore, and apply the strategies that feel right for each student. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print several reproducible tools in a convenient 8½" x 11" size. This title is part of The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by Sandra M. Chafouleas.

This title is ideal for Professional Development. Each chapter is divided into five parallel sections, so the reading can be divided among members of a book study. PD developers can access free review copies at www.guilford.com/PD.
Read Reviews

©2023 Guilford Press. All rights reserved

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Step-by-step books/guides for identifying children's strengths and weaknesses, promoting teens, and helping students whose academic performance is suffering due to deficits in executive skills

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Creating a neuro-inclusive school - September 2024 School's Webinar

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PANS PANDAS UK is a charity which was established by a dedicated group of parents with children who are affected by these conditions.

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Welcome to PANS PANDAS UK. This is our Home page.

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Educational Resources for PANS and PANDAS

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Educational Resources for PANS and PANDAS

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A Padlet of resources and ideas

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The Charlie Waller Trust offers online workshops to parents and carers based on the New Maudsley Approach, which recognises that family/carers are in a unique position to support their loved one to tackle the eating disorder.

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Eating disorder workshops for parents and carers

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Eating disorder workshops for parents and carers

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Our eating disorder workshops for parents and carers and those supporting someone with an eating disorder. Find a course that suits you.

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NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

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NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

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The NSFT Psychology in Schools Team is offering an online programme of workshops for parents/carers around childhood neurodivergence covering key topics that families have identified as most helpful.

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The programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people, offering practical advice on how to support their individual needs.

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Parent workshops on emotions, anxiety, exam stress, EBSNA and more

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Parent workshops on emotions, anxiety, exam stress, EBSNA and more

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Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is committed to transformation to develop an integrated provision for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

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Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is committed to transformation to develop an integrated provision for children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. A key priority is to bring specialist mental health support into local communities through a different relationship between GPs, education, primary care and community services and specialist mental health/wellbeing services. The Psychology in Schools Team has been working in Suffolk to do just this.The Psychology in Schools Team aims to support the development of whole-community approaches in schools across Suffolk. They endeavour to do this in co-production with the children, parents, teachers and communities of a school. Feedback from their work suggests that students, parents and teachers highly value an approach which allows them to learn how to take care of their own and support their young person’s wellbeing. Our workshops aim to provide parents with information and guidance around mental health and emotional wellbeing using an accessible and interactive format. This format encourages the sharing of experiences of parents, enabling them to feel understood, less isolated, as well as providing opportunities to learn from one another.The team is made up of senior mental health clinicians who have worked in specialist mental health services. They have both generic and specialist skills and are trained across the life-span to work with both children and adults.For information on our earlier workshops, how to access the recordings, and links to other aspects of NSFT, please visit our website: https://www.nsft.nhs.uk/parent-workshops .

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NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

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NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

# data[].attributes.body
The NSFT Psychology in Schools Team is offering an online programme of workshops for parents/carers around childhood neurodivergence covering key topics that families have identified as most helpful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people, offering practical advice on how to support their individual needs.

# data[].attributes.headline
NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

# data[].attributes.subject
NSFT Neurodiversity Parent Workshops online

# data[].attributes.body
The NSFT Psychology in Schools Team is offering an online programme of workshops for parents/carers around childhood neurodivergence covering key topics that families have identified as most helpful.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The programme of free virtual workshops for parents and carers will explore the unique strengths of neurodivergent children and young people, offering practical advice on how to support their individual needs.

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Information Guide and workbook for teenagers living with ADHD.

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Spectrum Gaming is an autistic-led UK based charity that supports autistic young people. We aim to create a world where every autistic young person knows that who they are is ok and they can be themselves, whilst still developing meaningful relationships and achieving their personal goals.

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Spectrum Gaming is an online community for autistic young people. The aims of Spectrum Gaming are to enable autistic young people to develop meaningful friendships; to help them understand and develop a positive perspective of their differences; and to advocate for the needs of autistic young people

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Empowering autistic individuals and those around them, ASD Helping Hands is dedicated to fostering confidence, independence, and inclusion at every stage of life. We provide guidance, education, and resources to help individuals, families, and professionals navigate autism with knowledge and empowerment.

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ASD Helping Hands is a Registered Not for Profit Charity, located in the UK. Offering Support and training for those working or affected by Autism.

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Supporting those have experienced trauma

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Supporting those have experienced trauma

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Trauma and Mental Health | Guide For Parents

If your child is struggling with the effects of trauma we have advice to help you support them to heal, and to find the right professional help if needed.

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All children and young people have difficult experiences sometimes. When this happens, they might feel more stressed or upset. But with a bit of support from those around them, they will usually feel better. However, when a child or young person experiences trauma, it can feel too big for their normal coping strategies.

If you're worried that your child or young person is struggling with trauma, remember that you can play an incredibly important role in helping them. By providing emotional support and a loving, safe relationship, you can help them to heal with time. You can also make sure they get the right professional support if they need it.

On this page, we've got information and advice to help you feel confident about supporting them.

A traumatic experience usually involves a threat to our sense of physical or emotional safety. We may also feel trapped, powerless or unsupported in the face of this threat.

Trauma describes both one-off events and things that happen over months or years - for example, within a young person's family or friend relationships. It can be something a young person experiences directly, or they might witness something happening to someone else.

These are some examples of things that a child or young person could find traumatic:

a violent event, such as an assault, car accident or natural disaster

experiencing racism, homophobia, transphobia or other forms of discrimination

experiencing domestic violence or abuse

being bullied

losing a family member or friend to suicide, or a sudden death in the family

going through a serious physical illness or time in hospital

being exposed to frightening or inappropriate online content

Ultimately, whether something is traumatic depends on how it makes an individual feel. There is no exact definition of the type of events that are traumatic. Our experiences of what happens to us can be affected by things like our life history, our perception of why it's happened, and the support available to us afterwards.

Trauma is not a mental health condition. But experiencing trauma can have long-term effects on someone's mental health. A wide range of mental health issues can be linked to trauma. This includes PTSD, anxiety, depression, OCD, eating disorders and self-harm.

Signs a child or young person is affected by trauma

Every child or young person's response to trauma will be different. They may show they're struggling straightaway. Or difficult feelings, thoughts and behaviours may emerge over time. Their reaction and how they cope might also change over time. For example, there may be times when things feel intensely difficult, and then they might feel better for a while.

This means it can be difficult to see the link between a previous traumatic experience and your child or young person's current behaviour. Sometimes they may not be aware of the link themselves.

In general, these are some of the things your child or young person may experience if they are struggling with trauma:

having thoughts or flashback images about the event or experience

finding it more difficult to manage their emotions, which can feel overwhelming

acting out or having angry outbursts

withdrawing from friends, family, school or activities they usually enjoy

avoiding thinking about, talking about, or being in situations which are related to the experience

seeming very sensitive or alert to what's happening around them

seeming zoned-out or disconnected from what's going on around them

finding it difficult to concentrate

not being able to sleep or having nightmares

turning to coping mechanisms such as self-harm, or using drugs or alcohol

blaming themselves, feeling guilty or struggling with their self-esteem

Some children and young people who go through trauma, experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). If this is the case, they may experience some of the symptoms listed above intensely. They may also start to negatively affect their day-to-day life.

Some people experiencing these symptoms are diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD). This diagnosis is often given when the traumatic experience has happened repeatedly over an extended period of time. This might include childhood trauma such as abuse or neglect.

If you are worried that your child or young person is experiencing PTSD or CPTSD, speak to a GP about getting an assessment and professional help. They will usually need professional support to feel better. You can find out more about getting help from GPs in our guide for parents and carers.

Supporting your child or young person to cope

It is normal for a child or young person to feel or behave differently after a traumatic experience. Remember that healing from trauma is a process.

It's important to give them time to adjust to what's happened, and not to expect things to get better straightaway. It's also a good idea to keep an eye on how they're doing, gently check-in with them and seek further help if it's needed.

Below, we've got some suggestions for things you can do as their parent or carer to make them feel safe and supported.

Helping them to make sense of what's happened and how they're feeling can make a difference. When they want to open up, let them speak as often and for as long as they need to. You can find advice to help you start a conversation with your child in our guide for parents and carers.

Reflect back the words they use to show that you get their experience. Don't be afraid of using words such as 'terrified', 'horrified', or 'furious' to show you understand how big their feelings are. You might also say 'it's really understandable that you're feeling...' to let them know that their feelings are okay.

You can find more advice about making your child or young person feel understood in our blog.

This can give them a break and help them to feel safe and relaxed, even if just for a little while. It might be:

drawing or colouring

making something like lego

playing sport

cooking or baking

watching a favourite film

Knowing what works, and trusting that they can help themselves, will build their belief in their ability to cope. This can make their feelings less overwhelming. Strategies could include:

running

drawing

listening to music

writing in a journal

talking to family or friends

watching a favourite film

reading a favourite book

They might want to make a self-soothe box. They can fill this with the things that help and use the box when they're struggling.

Young people tell us they want adults supporting them to:

know that everyone's experience is different, and it doesn't define who I am

recognise all of my needs and see me as a whole person

understand my behaviour - when I'm shouting, crying, hiding, stealing, hitting out at myself or others, I'm just trying to make sense of everything I've gone through

find a way to communicate that works for me

include me in decisions about my life - ask me what I want to happen

build on my strength and help me find new ways to recover

Finding professional support

Counsellors and therapists can provide emotional support and help your child to make sense of their feelings. They can also help them find ways of coping. With younger children, therapists will do this this through activities such as play and drawing.

It's a good idea to look for someone who has training and experience in treating trauma. They will be able to take a trauma-informed approach. You can find out how your child or young person can access counselling in our guide for parents and carers.

If your child or young person is struggling, be open with the school about what's going on and what support they need.

Depending on their age, it can be important to make sure they feel some control over the information that's shared about them. Ask them whether there's a member of staff who they would feel comfortable for you to speak to.

Alongside counselling, schools can often provide things like:

support from the pastoral team

mentoring

peer buddying

clubs and activities that can help your child feel more relaxed

If your child is feeling anxious about school at the moment, you can find information and advice in our guide for parents and carers.

In some moments, your child or young person might want to open up to someone outside of the family. Let them know about the phone, chat, email and text support they can access through the services listed at the end of this page.

If you're worried about your child's mental health, it's a good idea to speak to your GP. This is usually the first step to accessing mental health services through the NHS.

The GP can find out more about how your child or young person is feeling. They can suggest what might help and where they can find support. If needed, they can refer them to the NHS mental health service for children and young people, known as CAMHS. Through CAMHS they can get a specialist assessment and further treatment.

For more information about GPs, have a look at our guide for parents and carers.

Supporting a child or young person who has gone through trauma can be a very emotional experience. So take time to look after yourself and rest when you can.

Remember that in order to support your child, you need to keep looking after yourself. Talk to trusted friends, family and anyone else in your support network. It's okay to ask for help and to take time out when you need it.

If you feel that you need more support, you can ask for counselling or other support through your GP. You can also access a private counsellor or therapist if this is an affordable option for you.

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

This page was reviewed in October 2023. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with trauma. We will next review the page in 2026. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Trauma and Mental Health | Guide For Parents

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If your child is struggling with the effects of trauma we have advice to help you support them to heal, and to find the right professional help if needed.

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The topic of autism and girls has been much discussed in recent years, but while many are aware that girls may present differently, there is widespread misunderstanding about exactly how.

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Developing understanding & opening up conversations to support children and young people through Autistic Burnout.

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Helen Edgar Autistic Realms June 2023 Autistic Burnout a Family Guide

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Established in 2007, ADHD Norfolk recognises ADHD & ASD as complex conditions, which can have a profound effect on individuals, families, schools and society.

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Horatio Creative - Web Design + Development | www.horatiocreative.com

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A creative activity is a helpful way to support a bereaved child to talk about their feelings, explore strategies to manage their grief, and find ways to remember someone special to them who has died.  Here are some ideas for things you can do with your child to help them maintain a connection with their special person and build resilience.

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Activities for grieving children and young people - ideas for parents and carers

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A creative activity is a helpful way to support a bereaved child to talk about their feelings, explore strategies to manage their grief, and find ways to remember someone special to them who has died.  Here are some ideas for things you can do with your child to help them maintain a connection with their special person and build resilience.

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Free online self-harm support for 10-17 year olds. Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK.

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery."

Max

"If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive"

Abi

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don't need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions - you'll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

10-17 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

Looking for support but not wanting to do it face to face?

Wanting to move towards a life free from self-harm?

If so...

Alumina could be a helpful step forward. If you sign up we'll begin a conversation over email to work out if it might be a good fit - and you can ask us any questions you have. The only rule we have in Alumina is that we don't talk about suicide in the groups. If that's something you are struggling with thinking about we recommend getting in touch with our friends at Papyrus who are better equipped to support you.

"I thought it would be all serious and uncomfortable because of the self-harm talk but actually, the staff have made me laugh, we've been given a space that feels relevant to our ages and most importantly we can turn up in any mood and they'll be there for us." Runa

What's a session like?

"Clicking on the link for the first time was nerve wracking and intense with lots of thoughts going through my head. But within only a few minutes of the session I had a smile on my face and felt comfortable with the staff and the group."

Sasha

"Alumina was quite different to what I expected, I thought it would just be an intense 6 weeks and it would be over like other services. But it was nothing like that - instead I felt and still feel very supported by the staff. The group and staff are like a big family who's always there for me."

Samara

"Clicking that link for the very first time was terrifying. But I knew it could be life-changing. The first session I felt welcome, I no longer felt like an outsider. It's fun, believe me!! Most days I find myself looking forward to the next session because Alumina gives me a sign of hope."

Dan

Questions

We aren't a crisis service so if you're in need of immediate support please contact one of the following:

The Mix: Offering essential support for anyone aged 12-25. For their crisis messenger support service text THEMIX to 85258.
Childline: Support for anyone up to age 18. Call, chat online or email their crisis service.
Samaritans: Call 116123 anytime if you need to talk to someone.

We've changed the shape of our support for young people. This website introduces Alumina, our online support groups for young people struggling with self-harm. We've also recently launched beheadstrong.uk offering young people all kinds of information, stories and videos about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. You can find links to some of selfharm.co.uk's most popular articles below.

Yes we have! We have worked with 14-19 year olds for many years but we have always heard from people who are younger (or those who care about them) asking if we do anything for younger people. Then from September 2022 we reduced our age range to 11, and found how important it was to support this age range and that our Early Intervention project was great for this age range. Therefore, from October 2023 we will be aiming our work at young people in secondary school or college (or equivalent) and those transitioning to secondary school and our age range has reduced to 10-17 years old. If you're under 13 we will need to get permission from someone with parental responsibility for you, and we will email them to explain how Alumina works and make sure they are happy with you joining a group.

We aim to group similar aged young people into groups together, so 10-13-year-olds will be offered groups together and 13-17 year olds will be in other groups together. We are happy to work with anyone until the end of their full-time education, therefore we will work with 17- and 18-year-olds so long as they are three months or more away from finishing their education at the end of August.

Meet the team

Live Webinars

We have recently started to do live webinars on YouTube on issues related to self-harm and emotional wellbeing

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

If you're a parent, professional or friend supporting a young person who's self-harming, we recommend taking an hour to watch this webinar with our Alumina Managers. They explore why people self-harm, why young people especially self-harm, why it becomes addictive, how to break the addiction cycle, and what young people wish the adults around them understood about self-harm.

"Alumina is a well thought through support service for young people; it is professional, caring and accessible to all. Signposting a young person to Alumina will help them begin their recovery journey."

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

We've moved some of our most popular articles about self-harm over to beheadstrong.uk, and you can use these links to find them:

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Free online Self-harm support for 10-17 year olds

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery." Max "If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive" Abi Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

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A wealth of resources for parents, carers and families all around the topic of Neurodiversity.

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Here at Just One Norfolk, we are dedicated to providing children and young people’s health services to the community. Find out more about our services

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Developed by researchers at the University of Oxford, this guide includes information on the nature and
causes of self-harm and how to support a young person for parents and carers.

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A guide including information on the nature and causes of self-harm and how to support a young person for parents and carers

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A wealth of resources for parents, carers and families all around the topic of Neurodiversity.

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Here at Just One Norfolk, we are dedicated to providing children and young people’s health services to the community. Find out more about our services

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Trauma in children may be:

A one-off experience, such as a car crash

Living in an atmosphere that feels unsafe, or where they are witness to violence

Experiencing, or witnessing, harm

Experiences of war, or of becoming a refugee

Stressful and challenging experiences are a part of life, and most children will experience these at some point. This becomes traumatic if the event is more than a child can make sense of, or cope with.

To learn more about Trauma in Children, please refer to our informational and real-life experiences videos.

Nip in the Bud is very grateful to the UK Trauma Council for permitting us to show on our website their series of four excellent animation films.

Watch our Films

Further information:

What is traumatic for one child, may not be traumatic for another. It depends on how the child feels as a result of what has happened. If your child has experienced Trauma, they will be feeling very distressed, and this may show up as nightmares, physical aches and pains, or vomiting. Or they may suddenly need help to do things they could previously do such as the ability to feed or go to the toilet by themselves. They may also experience flashbacks to the traumatic event.

These reactions, which are a natural response to Trauma, may lessen over the following weeks. If they don't, then your child will need support to give them the best chance of recovery.

It is important to talk to your child about their feelings. Let them know that they are not alone and that it is safe for them to feel and to express whatever they are going through. Normalising their feelings will help to lessen their anxiety and help them to process their experiences.

Trauma that is not dealt with may have a lasting impact on a child, or young person's, development and personality. It isn't easy to see your child in distress, and you may want to reach out for support yourself.

If you are concerned about your child, please consult a GP for help and support and speak to the child's school.

Read and download the Trauma and Children factsheet written by Dr David Trickey.

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Trauma Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Trauma in children may be: A one-off experience, such as a car crash Living in an atmosphere that feels unsafe, or where they are witness to violence Experiencing, or witnessing, harm Experiences of war, or of becoming a refugee Stressful and challenging experiences are a part of life, and most children will experience these at some point.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Emotional Wellbeing Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental condition which affects the way children process information. ASC is not an illness; it is a spectrum condition that affects every child differently.

To learn more about Autism in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

Watch our Films

Dan & Charlie: 5 years on, life on the Autism Spectrum

Dad and son, Dan and Charlie share how their experience of living with Autism has changed in the five years since we last spoke in this Real life experience film.

Rachel - Life as a SENCO

In this 13-minute interview Rachel, the SENCO explains that Parents are often the first to notice if their child might be struggling. This might come to light when they're watching their child in playgroups. A nursery teacher can pick things up too. She highlights the importance of the check that is done by a health visitor when the child is two years old.

Fathers on Caring

Are you a dad getting to grips with parenting a child with additional needs?

Here, we talk to three dads who have an active and engaged role in looking after their child with additional needs. In this film, Damien, Anil and Usman open up about the challenges they have faced, the reality of the day-to-day, things they have learned along the way and where they have turned to look for support.

Never lose Hope - Fathers of children with Autism

Damien - Autism, expectations and Adapting

Autism Spectrum Condition in Children Information Film

This film explains how to recognise and help a child who shows the symptoms of Autism Spectrum Condition. (ASC)

The film focuses on children who may be very able and whose condition may not be readily apparent, especially girls, as they are particularly good at 'masking' symptoms. The film also highlights how people with Autism Spectrum Condition can also develop mental health conditions.

Autism and Co-existing Conditions in Children

Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC) is not a mental health disorder. It's a developmental condition and neurodiversity which affects how people see the world and how they communicate and interact. Autistic people will often, but certainly not always, experience some mental health challenges.

It is estimated that around 70% of people with autism have one mental health condition (such as anxiety, ADHD, depression or OCD) and around 40% of the 70% will have more than one. Some of these mental health conditions begin in childhood and are sometimes referred to as co-occurring or co-existing conditions.

Early intervention can be extremely effective at limiting the effects of these co-existing mental health conditions. Watch our film which features an interview with Professor Emily Simonoff, Professor of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at King's College London, to find out more about autism and co-existing mental health conditions.

Raising a child with autism: Carrie and David

Carrie and David describe how their happy child began to feel excluded and different when she started school. The outside world is so structured towards the neurotypical that it was causing a lot of damage to Tylan who is not neurotypical because of their autism.

It is a misnomer that autistic children are not sociable. They want to be able to have all kinds of friends. But if they are excluded and don't fit in anywhere, this leads to feelings of isolation, sadness and depression.

Tylan finally came into her own when they became an actor playing an autistic character for Hollyoaks. The company and other cast members were determined to understand Tylan. They constantly change the environment around them and make adjustments to suit Tylan's needs. As a result, Tylan has flourished.

Growing up with Autism: Tylan

Tylan felt alienated at school, thinking everything they did was wrong. Having a diagnosis of autism helped them but they developed anxiety, felt overwhelmed, had sensory overload and preferred to be alone rather than with people who didn't understand them. Tylan then developed clinical depression which didn't allow them to see how things could get better or how they could succeed in life.

Tylan's job at Hollyoaks, where many adjustments were made to suit their needs, allowed them to flourish.

Further information:

ASC affects the way a child or young person communicates, behaves, and interacts with others. The earliest signs of autism are reflected in the way your child starts to communicate and develop language skills. There may be a delay in the development of speech, or the child may never learn to speak.

On the other end, a child may be far ahead of their peers in terms of language development but may not be aware of the volume they speak at and may mimic phrases and accents they hear on tv. Your child may struggle to read other people's body language and it may be hard for them to express their emotions to you or others.

Although you as a parent may have taken the necessary steps to understand your child and their behaviours and triggers, this doesn't always translate to other people who interact with your child. It is important your child is in a school environment which can help them grow and make them feel safe - be aware of how your child is treated by their teachers and the school as a whole and determine whether that is the right environment for them. As a parent, you are the anchor for your child in a world that is mostly catered to neurotypical individuals.

It is a common misconception that mostly boys are on the autism spectrum - many girls experience it too but are much better at masking their autism. Due to the difficulty in obtaining a diagnosis for girls, they struggle in school and at home and are unaware of their triggers and sensitivities. A diagnosis provides a way for children to recognise what helps them, what doesn't, and what they struggle with - which will help them thrive in the future.

Seek out a diagnosis if your child is delayed in meeting developmental milestones, seems socially withdrawn, resists different tastes and textures, or engages in challenging behaviour. The first step to getting a diagnosis would be to talk to your GP who will be able to refer you to the relevant health care professional.

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Autism Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Autism spectrum condition (ASC) is a neurodevelopmental condition which affects the way children process information. ASC is not an illness; it is a spectrum condition that affects every child differently. To learn more about Autism in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Caring for children with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can be challenging. There are lots of resources out there for parents of children with ADHD to get support and understand more about their condition - this can make it easier to cope with a young person's neurodiversity.

To learn more about ADHD in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

Watch our Films

Living with ADHD - Debbie's Story

In this very personal 4-minute video, Debbie talks about the challenges she faced getting a diagnosis, and shares her experience of living with ADHD. Debbie belongs to ADHD Babes, a support group for Black women and Black non-binary people of African-Caribbean descent with ADHD.

ADHD in Children

A child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can experience problems with overactivity, impulsivity and risk taking. It can mean a child is disruptive, which can make a real difference to their progress in school and impact on their relationships with their peers, friends, family and teachers. This film explains how to identify and help a child showing the symptoms of ADHD.

How to Recognise ADHD Symptoms in Children

Raising a Child with ODD and ADHD

ODD stands for Oppositional Defiant Disorder. It is a conduct disorder. Children with ODD frequently have severe temper tantrums, do things that annoy people, argue, defy adults' requests, seem angry and spiteful and blame others for their own misbehaviour.

Find out more about Conduct Disorders in Children, read and download our Fact sheet, or watch more real life experience films.

Celina's daughter has ADHD. But Celina describes how the ADHD feeds Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) and it is the ODD that affects her daughter the most. ODD is the most common Conduct Disorder in children 10 years and under.

Further information:

ADHD can mean that normal routines, rules and activities cannot be approached in a traditional way. Just trying to understand your child will help you to tailor different approaches to see what works for them.

Children with ADHD often struggle with difficulty keeping attention, levels of activity and impulse control. These difficulties are present before the age of seven years and can affect many areas of the child's and family's life. Signs of ADHD in girls are also different - and less widely known - than those in boys, leading to many girls and women to go through life undiagnosed.

It may also be useful to speak to your child's school about putting plans in place and educating them to the best of your ability about ADHD and how this may affect your child's learning.

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ADHD Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Caring for children with ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, can be challenging. There are lots of resources out there for parents of children with ADHD to get support and understand more about their condition - this can make it easier to cope with a young person's neurodiversity.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Self-Harm Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Self-harm in children happens when they experience an overwhelming core pain that they are not able to handle. As a parent, it is important to understand it is not the child’s fault they are reacting this way and they are not doing it on purpose – they simply do not know how to handle the overwhelming feelings they are experiencing. To learn more about self-harm in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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As a parent, it can be difficult to recognise whether your child is developing a serious eating disorder - fussy eating is a common part of the development of children. However, there are signs to look out for which will help you determine whether your child needs help, or whether they're simply trying to establish their likes and dislikes in food.

To learn more, watch our films on Anorexia and Bulimia in children below or read our factsheet.

Understanding Eating Disorders

Around 1.25 million people in the UK suffer from eating disorders. These disorders can cause serious harm, both physically and emotionally, and they have the highest mortality rate of any mental illness. Early diagnosis, intervention and treatment is critical. To learn details on the different kinds of Eating Disorders, watch this 8-minute film and read the fact sheet.

You can also watch our Real Life Experience 6-minute film Boys Get Anorexia or visit our Eating Disorders page to watch our film on Bulimia.

Bulimia in Young People: Susannah's story

Aged 10 Susannah became worried about her body image leading to dieting, weight loss, self-harm and bulimia. In this 9-minute film she relates her experience with eating disorders. She began to realise that others had similar experiences and how sharing stories helps recovery.

Read and download our fact sheets, watch more videos or sign up for our mailing list and free interactive guide.

Boys get Anorexia too

Eating disorders are more commonly associated with girls. Boys who develop these problems are often misdiagnosed. In this 6-minute film, Jenny Langley, author of 'Boys Get Anorexia Too' talks about her experience when her son developed an eating disorder.

Further information:

Food can be a way for children and young people to explore their environment and first discover their likes and dislikes, establishing their independence from their caregivers. However, an unhealthy relationship with food can be very dangerous for your child and their development.

It is a common misconception that the changing of weight, either gaining or losing, is the main indication of a child having an eating disorder - it is actually quite a late sign in the development of the mental illness. Early signs of eating disorders are low self-esteem, a child or young person avoiding looking at themselves in the mirror, wearing clothes that cover up most of their body, frequent mood swings, and irregular eating habits or being evasive when discussing food.

If you find stashes of food in your child's room, or if large amounts of food are missing suddenly without you realising, it could mean that your child is being secretive about their eating habits, which is a strong indication of an eating disorder to look out for. Another sign is if your child often says they're not hungry or they'll eat later or if they're adamant about eating alone in their room. If you are noticing these signs in your child, it is wise to visit your GP and ask about who to refer your child to, as well as asking about support groups for parents caring for someone with an eating disorder.

As a parent, it is important not to overlook the potential of boys developing an eating disorder, as it is commonly believed that the mental illness primarily develops in young teenage girls. It is crucial you are aware of this as a parent and look out for the signs including exercising obsessively, as people believe it is so rare that even health care professionals may not recognise the potential of an eating disorder in young boys.

Eating disorders are treatable and a full recovery is possible. However, an eating disorder may cause permanent damage to the body if it continues over a prolonged period of time.

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Eating Disorders Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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As a parent, it can be difficult to recognise whether your child is developing a serious eating disorder - fussy eating is a common part of the development of children. However, there are signs to look out for which will help you determine whether your child needs help, or whether they're simply trying to establish their likes and dislikes in food.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Depression Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Children with depression will experience an uncharacteristic low mood, irritability, and lack of enthusiasm for life for at least two to four weeks. These emotions often continue to worsen and last for a long time. Depression in children and young people should be taken seriously, as it can lead to life-threatening outcomes such as self-harm and even suicide. To learn more, watch our films on depression in children or read our factsheet.

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Films and factsheets for parents.

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Children can experience anxiety at any time and at any age. Many of these worries tend to be a normal part of growing up. However, it's important to detect when these worries start to affect their wellbeing.

To learn more about anxiety in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

Managing Anxiety around School

Do your children sometimes feel anxious about going back to school especially after longer holidays like Christmas, Easter and the Summer. L isten to this under 5 minute video in which Dr Jess Richardson, Senior Clinical Psychologist, shares helpful tips for Parents. Find out more by reading our Managing Anxieties Around School Fact Sheet.

Anxiety in Children Information Film

It is normal for young children to have worries but if these worries become intense and begin to impact on their daily lives, it may be that they have an anxiety disorder.

This film explains more about the different kinds of anxiety disorders, how to recognise them and how to help a child who has one.

Anxiety and Me : Real Life Child Mental Health Experiences

Please note - some images and content may be upsetting or disturbing. This film is not intended to be watched by children.
This short film features real life accounts of Anxiety experienced by young people. Through their words we see the importance of early intervention by parents and teachers.

Nip in the Bud strongly believes that early intervention and support for children ensures far better outcomes.

How to Recognise Symptoms of Anxiety in Children

Further information:

Anxiety can become a problem for children and young people when it starts to get in the way of their everyday life. Severe anxiety can affect their mental and emotional wellbeing, sometimes making them withdrawn from situations.

There are a few symptoms that you can look for if you suspect your child may be suffering from anxiety, including finding it difficult to concentrate, difficulties sleeping, not eating properly and constantly worrying.

There are different types of anxiety that can occur in childhood, ranging from separation anxiety to panic attacks. Some have symptoms which are easier to spot, while others can be more difficult to detect.

If your child is suffering from anxiety, it's important that you keep their school involved and well informed so they can put measures in place should your child require any further support in the classroom.

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Anxiety Videos for Parents and Carers | Nip in the Bud

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Children can experience anxiety at any time and at any age. Many of these worries tend to be a normal part of growing up. However, it's important to detect when these worries start to affect their wellbeing. To learn more about anxiety in children, watch our films below or read our factsheet.

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Emotion regulation is the ability to manage our emotions and this guide has a range of practical strategies to be used at home.

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Information, resources and signposting

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Information, resources and signposting

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Information, Resources and Signposting

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Information, Resources and Signposting

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The Calm Harm app provides some immediate activities and techniques to help you break the cycle of self-harm behaviour and explore underlying trigger factors; the app supports you in building a ‘safety net’ of helpful thoughts, behaviours, and access to supportive people, as well as providing the opportunity to journal and self-reflect. The Calm Harm app also signposts to help.

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Calm Harm is an award-winning app funded by teenage mental health charity stem4, to help manage the urge to self-harm. It was developed by Clinical Psychologist Dr. Nihara Krause MBE, in collaboration with young people and uses principles from an evidence-based psychological treatment called Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT).

The urge to self-harm is like a wave. It feels the most powerful when you start wanting to do it.

Learn to ride the wave with the Calm Harm app by choosing activities from these categories:
, , Express Yourself , , and .

There is also a breathing exercise to help you be mindful and stay in the moment, regulate difficult emotions, and reduce tension.

When you ride the wave, the urge to self-harm will fade.

The Calm Harm app provides some immediate activities and techniques to help you break the cycle of self-harm behaviour and explore underlying trigger factors; the app supports you in building a 'safety net' of helpful thoughts, behaviours, and access to supportive people, as well as providing the opportunity to journal and self-reflect. The Calm Harm app also signposts to help.

The app is private, anonymous, and safe.

Please note that the Calm Harm app is not a substitute for the assessment and individualised treatment by a health or mental health professional.

Our app is for young people over the age of 13.

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Calm Harm is a free app to help teenagers manage the urge to self-harm. Available on Google Play & App Store.

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If your child's experiences around gender identity are affecting their mental health, we've got information and advice on what you can do and where you can get help.

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Gender Identity & Mental Health | Guide For Parents

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If your child is transgender or struggling with their gender identity, read our information and advice on supporting them and on where you can get help.

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If your child seems confused about their gender, it's usual for parents to also feel puzzled or worried. But there is help available to support you and your child.

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Think your child might be trans or non-binary?

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Find out what help is available if your child seems confused about their gender and support for you as their parent.

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Understanding and Supporting My Child's ADHD

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Understanding and Supporting My Child's ADHD

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An information and resource booklet for parents and carers of

children and young people with ADHD.

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It is really important to take issues about eating and eating disorders seriously. Parents play an important part in the recovery process both directly and indirectly.

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Eating disorders - for parents/carers - stem4

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Eating disorders For parents/carers This section is first and foremost for parents who may be worried that their teenager may be developing or currently has an eating disorder. It is also for parents whose teenager has a friend who has an eating disorder.

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A guide to the emotional regulation strategies used as part of Zones of Regulation.

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Supporting Norwich and Dereham Young Carers and their families for over 29 years!

Connects & Co. values and cherishes children and young people who live with the effects of terminal or long-term illness,  disability, mental health issues and addiction within their family.

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Connects & Co - Support for young carers and siblings

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Welcome to Connects & Co - Connects & Co

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SUPPORTING NORWICH & DEREHAM YOUNG CARERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. Connects & Co. values and cherishes children and young people who live with the effects of terminal or long-term illness, disability, mental health issues and Addiction within their family.

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Please take some time to explore the site and learn about Selective Mutism (often referred to as ‘SM’), which can have a distressing effect not only on those with the condition but also on their families.

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Selective Mutism Information & Research Association (SMIRA)

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Selective Mutism (SM) is a communication anxiety disorder. This site contains information on and support for parents, people with SM, and professionals.

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Behaviour and Emotions: Action for Children

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Behaviour and Emotions: Action for Children

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Understanding emotions and behaviour.

Tantrums, anxious feelings, eating habits and more.

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Understanding emotions and behaviour - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Tantrums, anxious feelings, eating habits and more

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Separation Anxiety: Action for Children 

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Separation Anxiety: Action for Children 

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Separation anxiety is when someone feels upset or fearful about being away from another person. This can sometimes happen if your child has been spending a lot of time with you. They may find it difficult to leave you, or become upset or clingy.

Some children will find it takes some time to adapt to changes to their routine, like starting nursery or school. Or there may be other changes in their life where they need some extra support.

It’s quite common for children to feel this way, and you can help them understand.

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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How can I help my child with separation anxiety? - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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If your child finds it difficult to leave you or be with others, this is sometimes called separation anxiety. It's quite common, and you can help them adjust.

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Understanding behaviour and emotions, talking about feelings, safety and wellbeing, rules and rewards, wellbeing activities.

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Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Feelings and behaviour - Support for Parents from Action For Children

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Understanding behaviour and emotions, talking about feelings, safety and wellbeing, rules and rewards, wellbeing activities

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Attachment Issues in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

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Attachment Issues in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

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Attachment problems can affect your child’s development, relationships, and overall well-being. But as a parent, there are ways to overcome insecure attachment and set your child up for success.

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What are attachment issues?

Attachment issues develop in young children when the attachment bond-the emotional relationship that develops between an infant and their primary caretaker-is disrupted or not developed securely.

Since the quality of the attachment bond profoundly impacts your child's development, experiencing attachment issues can affect their ability to express emotions, build resilience, trust, and confidence, and enjoy healthy relationships. Some studies show that insecure attachment can even contribute to behavioral problems, such as bullying.

No matter how detached or insecure your child seems, or how frustrated or exhausted you feel from trying to connect with them, it is possible to repair an attachment issue. With the right tools-and a healthy dose of patience and love-you can bond with your child, shape their development, and help them build healthy, meaningful, and loving relationships.
[Read: What is Secure Attachment and Bonding?]
Attachment issues vs. attachment disorders

Children with attachment problems tend to fall on a spectrum, ranging from mild issues to attachment disorders. While mild attachment issues are usually easily addressed, in cases of severe attachment issues, your child may be diagnosed with one of two distinct attachment disorders:

Reactive attachment disorder (RAD). A child with RAD rarely seeks comfort when distressed and often feels unsafe and alone. They may be extremely withdrawn, emotionally detached, and resistant to comforting. They may push you away, ignore you, or even act out aggressively when you try to get close. Read: Reactive attachment disorder (RAD). Read: Reactive Attachment Disorder (RAD).

Disinhibited social engagement disorder (DSED). With DSED, a child doesn't seem to prefer their parents over other people, even strangers. They'll seek comfort and attention from virtually anyone, and won't exhibit any distress when a parent isn't present. While they are overly familiar with strangers, children with DSED often have trouble forming meaningful connections with others. Read: Disinhibited Social Engagement Disorder (DSED)

Both types of attachment disorder are more common in young children who have been traumatized, abused, spent time in foster care or orphanages, or separated from their primary caregiver after establishing a bond, such as an extended stay in hospital. These children may have difficulty relating to others and can be developmentally delayed.

Causes of attachment issues

About 35 percent of infants have some form of insecure attachment. Attachment difficulties occur when a child has been unable to consistently connect with a parent or primary caregiver.

If a young child repeatedly feels abandoned, isolated, powerless, or uncared for-whatever the reason-they will learn that they can't depend on others and that the world is a dangerous and frightening place.

This can happen for many reasons:

A baby cries and no one responds or offers comfort.

A baby is hungry or wet, and they aren't attended to for hours.

No one looks at, talks to, or smiles at the baby, so the baby feels alone.

A young child gets attention only by acting out or displaying other extreme behaviors.

An infant or young child is mistreated, traumatized, or abused.

Sometimes a child's needs are met, and sometimes they aren't. The child never knows what to expect.

An infant or young child is hospitalized or separated from their parents.

A baby or youngster is moved from one caregiver to another (the result of adoption, foster care, or the loss of a parent, for example).

The parent is emotionally unavailable because of depression, illness, or substance abuse.

Sometimes the circumstances that cause attachment problems are unavoidable, but the child is too young to understand what has happened and why. To a young child, it just feels as if no one cares. They may lose trust in others, and see the world as an unsafe place.

Development of insecure attachment styles

According to attachment theory, different circumstances can lead to different types of insecure attachment styles:

If a parent is sometimes responsive to the child but unavailable at other times, the child might develop an ambivalent (or anxious-preoccupied) attachment style. Children with this attachment style may have low confidence and feel highly distressed when separated from their caregiver. Later in life, they might struggle with anxiety in relationships, making them "clingy" or jealous.

If a parent is often unavailable or distracted, the child is more likely to develop an avoidant-dismissive attachment style. Children with this attachment style have come to believe they cannot rely on others, and this leads them to avoid intimacy later in life.
[Read: How Attachment Styles Affect Adult Relationships]
Childhood trauma or abuse can contribute to a disorganized (or fearful-avoidant) attachment style. In these cases, a baby might see the parent as a source of comfort as well as a threat. This can lead to suspicion, hostility, and lack of commitment in later relationships.

Nature vs. nurture

Studies of twins indicate that attachment security is mostly affected by a child's environment rather than genetics. However, it's possible that certain children are genetically more vulnerable to developing attachment disorders, such as reactive attachment disorder.

Signs and symptoms of attachment issues

Although it is never too late to treat and repair attachment issues, the earlier you spot the symptoms of insecure attachment and take steps to repair them, the better. Caught in infancy before they become more serious problems, attachment difficulties are often easy to correct with the right help and support.

A 12- to 20-month-old infant with insecure attachment may:

Seem emotionally unfazed by your absence or presence.

Cry inconsolably, even when you try to soothe them.

Seem fearful of you or angry when you leave and return.

You can also use the following developmental milestones to identify early attachment difficulties. If your child doesn't seem to be reaching these milestones, talk to your pediatrician:

Around one to two months old, your baby should smile back when you smile and respond to high-pitched sounds you make.

Around four months old, your baby will likely take turns making noises back and forth with you.

At five months of age, they'll recognize you by sight.

At about eight months, they will follow your gaze when you look at things. This is known as joint attention.

Somewhere between six and 12 months of age, your child should begin actively seeking comfort from you and show a desire to play. When they're separated from you, they'll appear upset. They will also show some anxiety around strangers, as they become able to discern between familiar and unfamiliar faces.

At around 12 months, your baby will play games like peek-a-boo with you and use gestures to nonverbally communicate "hi," "bye," or "look over there."

At around 15 months, they will show signs of empathy. Perhaps they look sad when they see a sibling crying.

Between 18 and 24 months of age, the baby will play pretend with toys, such as imitating a conversation on a toy phone or feeding a doll.

Signs of attachment issues in older children

In school-age children, signs of attachment difficulties might show up in their interactions with siblings and classroom peers. Insecurely attached children may be:

Withdrawn from others and hesitant to join group activities.

Overly dependent on others.

Quick to act out to gain attention.

Prone to bullying peers or being defiant toward parents and teachers.

Hypervigilant and easily stressed.

Emotionally volatile, often showing extreme anger, despair, or fear.

Tips for parenting a child with attachment issues

Parenting a child with insecure attachment can be frustrating and emotionally draining. It can be hard to put your best parenting foot forward without the reassurance of a loving connection with your child. Sometimes you may even wonder if your efforts are worth it. But with time, patience, and concerted effort, attachment issues can be repaired..
[Read: Building a Secure Attachment Bond with Your Baby]
The key is to remain calm yet firm and responsive as you interact with your child. This will teach your child that they are safe and can trust you.

Tip 1: Prepare yourself emotionally

A child with insecure attachment is already experiencing a great deal of stress, so it is important that you evaluate and manage your own stress levels before trying to help your child with theirs. HelpGuide's free Emotional Intelligence Toolkit can teach you valuable skills for managing stress and dealing with overwhelming emotions, allowing you to focus on your child's needs.

To help a child with attachment issues, it's also important to:

Have realistic expectations. Helping your child may be a long road. Focus on making small steps forward and celebrate every sign of success.

Stay patient. The process may not be as rapid as you'd like, and you can expect bumps along the way. But by remaining patient and focusing on small improvements, you create an atmosphere of safety for your child.

Foster a sense of humor. Joy and laughter go a long way toward repairing attachment problems and energizing you, even in the midst of hard work. Find at least a couple of people or activities that help you laugh and feel good.

Take care of yourself. Reduce other demands on your time, make time for yourself, and manage stress. Rest, good nutrition, and parenting breaks help you relax and recharge your batteries so you can give your full attention to your child.

Find support. Rely on friends, family, and community resources. Try to ask for help before you really need it to avoid getting stressed to breaking point. You may also want to consider joining a support group for parents.

Stay positive and hopeful. Be sensitive to the fact that children pick up on feelings. If they sense that you're discouraged, it will be discouraging to them. When you are feeling down, turn to others for reassurance.

Tip 2: Provide stability and security

Safety and stability are core issues for children with attachment problems. They are distant and detached because they feel unsafe in the world. They keep their guard up to protect themselves, but it also prevents them from accepting love and support.

It is essential to build up your child's sense of security. You can accomplish this by establishing clear expectations and rules of behavior, and by responding consistently so your child knows what to expect when they act a certain way and-even more importantly-knows that no matter what happens, you can be counted on.

Set limits and boundaries. Consistent, loving boundaries make the world seem more stable and predictable and less scary to children with attachment difficulties. It's important that they understand what behavior is expected of them, what is and isn't acceptable, and the consequences if they disregard the rules. This also teaches them that they have more control over what happens to them.

Take charge, but remain calm when your child is upset or misbehaving. Remember that "bad" behavior means that your child doesn't know how to handle what they're feeling and needs your help. By staying calm, you show your child that the feeling is manageable. If they are being purposefully defiant, follow through with the pre-established consequences in a cool, matter-of-fact manner. But never discipline a child with an attachment issue when you're in an emotionally-charged state. This makes the child feel more unsafe and may even reinforce the bad behavior, since it's clear that it pushes your buttons.

Be immediately available to reconnect following a conflict. Conflict can be especially disturbing for children with attachment issues. After a conflict or tantrum where you've had to discipline your child, be ready to reconnect as soon as they're ready. This reinforces your consistency and love and will help your child develop a trust that you'll be there through thick and thin.
[Read: Conflict Resolution Skills]
Own up to mistakes and initiate repair. When you let frustration or anger get the best of you, or you do something you realize is insensitive, quickly address the mistake. Your willingness to take responsibility and make amends can strengthen the attachment bond. Children with attachment issues need to learn that, although you may not be perfect, you will love them no matter what.

Try to maintain predictable routines and schedules. A child with attachment issues may feel threatened by transition and inconsistency-when traveling or during school vacations, for example. A familiar routine or schedule can provide comfort during times of change.

Tip 3: Support your child's health

Your child's eating, sleep, and exercise habits are always important, but they're even more so for kids with attachment problems. Healthy lifestyle habits can go a long way toward reducing your child's stress levels and leveling out mood swings. When children with attachment issues are relaxed, well-rested, and feeling good, it will be much easier for them to handle life's challenges.

Diet. Make sure your child eats a healthy diet full of whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein. Be sure to skip the sugar and add plenty of good fats-like fish, flax seed, avocados, and olive oil-for optimal brain health.
[Read: Healthy Food for Kids]
Sleep. If your child is tired during the day, it will be that much harder for them to focus on learning new things. Making their sleep schedule (bedtime and wake time) consistent can help alleviate childhood sleep problems.

Exercise. Any type of physical activity provides a great antidote to stress, frustration, and pent-up emotion, triggering endorphins to make your child feel good. Physical activity is especially important for an angry child. If your child isn't naturally active, try some different classes or sports to find something that is appealing.

Any one of these things-food, rest, and exercise-can make the difference between a good and a bad day for a child who has attachment difficulties. These basics will help ensure that your child's brain is healthy and ready to connect.

Tip 4: Make your child feel loved

A child who has not bonded early in life will have a hard time accepting love, especially physical expressions of love. But you can help them learn to accept your love with time, consistency, and repetition. Trust and security come from seeing loving actions, hearing reassuring words, and feeling comforted over and over again.

Identify actions that feel good to your child. If possible, show your child love through rocking, cuddling, and holding-attachment experiences they may have missed out on earlier. But always be respectful of what feels comfortable and good to your child. In cases of previous abuse, neglect, and trauma, you may have to go very slowly because your child may be very resistant to physical touch.

Consider your nonverbal cues. Your body language can send all sorts of positive and negative messages. For example, when possible, maintain eye contact when talking with your child. If you frequently seem distracted or disinterested, they will notice your inattentiveness.

Help your child identify emotions and express their needs. Children with attachment problems may not know what they're feeling or how to ask for what they need. Reinforce the idea that all feelings are okay and show them healthy ways to express their emotions.

Listen, talk, and play with your child. Carve out times when you're able to give your child your full, focused attention in ways that feel comfortable to them. It may seem hard to drop everything, eliminate distractions, and just live in the moment, but spending quality time together provides a great opportunity for your child to open up to you and feel your focused attention and care.

Professional treatment

If your child is suffering from a severe attachment issue or either type of attachment disorder, it's important to seek professional help. Extra support can make a dramatic and positive change in your child's life, and the earlier you seek help, the better.

Start by consulting with your pediatrician, a child development specialist, or an organization that specializes in child development or attachment disorders.

Treatment for attachment issues and disorders usually involves a combination of therapy, counseling, and parenting education. These are designed to ensure that your child has a safe living environment, improves their peer relationships, and develops positive interactions with you, their parent or caregiver.

While medication may be used to treat associated conditions, such as depression, anxiety, or hyperactivity, there is no quick fix. Your pediatrician may recommend a treatment plan that includes:

Family therapy. Typical therapy for attachment problems includes both your child and you. Therapy often involves fun and rewarding activities that enhance the attachment bond as well as help parents and other children in the family understand the symptoms of the disorder and effective interventions.

Individual psychological counseling. Therapists may also meet with your child individually or while you observe. This is designed to help your child directly with monitoring their emotions and behavior.

Play therapy. Helps your child learn appropriate skills for interacting with peers and handling other social situations.

Special education services. Specifically designed programs within your child's school can help them learn skills required for academic and social success, while also addressing behavioral and emotional difficulties.

Parenting skills classes. Education for parents and caregivers centers on learning about attachment issues as well as other necessary parenting skills.

Raising a child with attachment issues can be a challenging yet rewarding experience. As you provide them with consistent love and mindful care, you'll watch them grow into secure, confident individuals.

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Attachment Issues in Children: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment - HelpGuide.org

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Attachment problems can affect your child's development, relationships, and overall well-being. Here's how to overcome insecure attachment.

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Supporting children with attachment difficulties – information for parents/carers

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Supporting children with attachment difficulties - information for parents/carers - Educational Psychology & Specialist Support

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As children grow up, they develop attachments to their main care givers. It is thought that children develop different types of attachments, depending on the relationships they have in their early life. 'Nurturing adult attachments provide children with protective, safe havens and secure bases from which to explore and engage with others and their environment'...

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Free online self-harm support for 10-17 year olds. Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK.

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery."

Max

"If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive"

Abi

Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm. Each course has up to 14 young people, all accessing the sessions from their own phones, tablets or laptops across the UK. The courses take place on different evenings of the week and are run by friendly, trained counsellors and volunteer youth workers. You don't need an adult to refer you or sign you up, and no-one will see or hear you during the sessions - you'll just join in via the chatbox. We want to help you to find your next steps towards recovery, wherever you are on your journey.

IS ALUMINA RIGHT FOR ME?

Are you...

10-17 years old?

Living in the UK?

Someone who self-harms or worries they might?

Looking for support but not wanting to do it face to face?

Wanting to move towards a life free from self-harm?

If so...

Alumina could be a helpful step forward. If you sign up we'll begin a conversation over email to work out if it might be a good fit - and you can ask us any questions you have. The only rule we have in Alumina is that we don't talk about suicide in the groups. If that's something you are struggling with thinking about we recommend getting in touch with our friends at Papyrus who are better equipped to support you.

"I thought it would be all serious and uncomfortable because of the self-harm talk but actually, the staff have made me laugh, we've been given a space that feels relevant to our ages and most importantly we can turn up in any mood and they'll be there for us." Runa

What's a session like?

"Clicking on the link for the first time was nerve wracking and intense with lots of thoughts going through my head. But within only a few minutes of the session I had a smile on my face and felt comfortable with the staff and the group."

Sasha

"Alumina was quite different to what I expected, I thought it would just be an intense 6 weeks and it would be over like other services. But it was nothing like that - instead I felt and still feel very supported by the staff. The group and staff are like a big family who's always there for me."

Samara

"Clicking that link for the very first time was terrifying. But I knew it could be life-changing. The first session I felt welcome, I no longer felt like an outsider. It's fun, believe me!! Most days I find myself looking forward to the next session because Alumina gives me a sign of hope."

Dan

Questions

We aren't a crisis service so if you're in need of immediate support please contact one of the following:

The Mix: Offering essential support for anyone aged 12-25. For their crisis messenger support service text THEMIX to 85258.
Childline: Support for anyone up to age 18. Call, chat online or email their crisis service.
Samaritans: Call 116123 anytime if you need to talk to someone.

We've changed the shape of our support for young people. This website introduces Alumina, our online support groups for young people struggling with self-harm. We've also recently launched beheadstrong.uk offering young people all kinds of information, stories and videos about looking after your mental and emotional wellbeing. You can find links to some of selfharm.co.uk's most popular articles below.

Yes we have! We have worked with 14-19 year olds for many years but we have always heard from people who are younger (or those who care about them) asking if we do anything for younger people. Then from September 2022 we reduced our age range to 11, and found how important it was to support this age range and that our Early Intervention project was great for this age range. Therefore, from October 2023 we will be aiming our work at young people in secondary school or college (or equivalent) and those transitioning to secondary school and our age range has reduced to 10-17 years old. If you're under 13 we will need to get permission from someone with parental responsibility for you, and we will email them to explain how Alumina works and make sure they are happy with you joining a group.

We aim to group similar aged young people into groups together, so 10-13-year-olds will be offered groups together and 13-17 year olds will be in other groups together. We are happy to work with anyone until the end of their full-time education, therefore we will work with 17- and 18-year-olds so long as they are three months or more away from finishing their education at the end of August.

Meet the team

Live Webinars

We have recently started to do live webinars on YouTube on issues related to self-harm and emotional wellbeing

Supporting Young People Who Self-harm

If you're a parent, professional or friend supporting a young person who's self-harming, we recommend taking an hour to watch this webinar with our Alumina Managers. They explore why people self-harm, why young people especially self-harm, why it becomes addictive, how to break the addiction cycle, and what young people wish the adults around them understood about self-harm.

"Alumina is a well thought through support service for young people; it is professional, caring and accessible to all. Signposting a young person to Alumina will help them begin their recovery journey."

DR. KATE MIDDLETON

Our Alumina advisory panel

More information about self-harm

We've moved some of our most popular articles about self-harm over to beheadstrong.uk, and you can use these links to find them:

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Free online Self-harm support for 10-17 year olds

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"Since starting alumina it's become the highlight of my week. It's such a safe, non judgemental place which has really helped me in my recovery." Max "If you're thinking about joining I'd say go for it, the team are lovely and everyone who does it is so welcoming and supportive" Abi Alumina is a free, online 7 week course for young people struggling with self-harm.

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Read our guide to self-harm to learn more about what self-harm is, what the signs of self-harm are in a young person, and where to get support.

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#NoHarmDone | A Parent's Journey | My Child Self-Harms | YoungMinds

If you're worried that your child is self-harming but they aren't talking to you about it or showing visible injuries, it can be difficult to know what's going on.

Ways that young people self-harm

Some ways that young people self-harm include:

cutting themselves

scratching skin with fingernails

burning skin

biting skin

hitting themselves, or banging their head or another part of their body on a wall

pulling hair out from their head, eyebrows or eyelashes

inserting objects into their body

Things to look out for

If you are worried your child may be self-harming, here are some things to look out for:

unexplained cuts, burns, bite marks, bruises or bald patches

keeping themselves covered, for example wearing long sleeves or trousers even during hot weather, not wanting to change clothes around others or avoiding activities like swimming

bloody tissues in waste bins

seeming low or depressed, for example withdrawing from friends and family

blaming themselves for problems or expressing feelings of failure, uselessness or hopelessness

outbursts of anger or argumentativeness

Self-harm is usually a way of trying to manage very difficult feelings. People often self-harm when life feels hard to cope with - when lots of distressing feelings have built up and it's become overwhelming. In the moment, the sensation of self-harming and experiencing some physical pain can feel easier than feeling out of control emotionally.

If a young person is self-harming, it's often a sign that something in their life isn't quite right or has become too much to deal with. It can be understood as an important message about how a young person is feeling - one that needs to be noticed with care by the adults around them.

Some myths you might hear about self-harm can make it harder to talk about as a parent - including that it's a 'phase' young people go through, or that it's an attention-seeking behaviour.

While it might feel hard to understand sometimes from the outside, self-harm can be a way for a young person to:

manage, reduce or express very strong and upsetting emotions - such as hurt, sadness, anger, fear or feeling bad about themselves

relieve tension and pressure, or reduce feelings of panic and anxiety and temporarily feel calmer

experience a feeling of physical pain to distract from emotional pain

gain a sense of control over feelings or problems - for example, by feeling there's something they can do when things feel too much

stop feeling numb or 'zoned-out' - which can be a protection mechanism our bodies use when we're experiencing overwhelming feelings

However, while it often feels like self-harm brings some relief in the moment, this is only temporary. As feelings build up again, so does the urge to self-harm. As this cycle continues over time, a young person may start to feel ashamed, confused or frightened about the fact that they're self-harming - increasing the load they're carrying on top of what they're already going through. This can become a cycle that's really hard to break, and a habit that's hard to stop.

Helping your child in the short term

When the urge to self-harm does build in the moment, having a list of other things they can do straight away can also help your child to 'ride the wave of' their intense feelings without self-harming.

Remember that different things will work for different people, and that what helps will usually depend on the feelings your child is trying to manage. Some young people will want to do something soothing like wrapping themselves up in a comfy space, while others might want to do something very active to burn off the energy in their body.

Talk to your child about different strategies they could try, while also giving them space to find their own ways of coping and figure out what works for them. Strategies could include:

Making and using a self soothe box

Writing down how they're feeling in a journal

Writing down difficult feelings on pieces of paper and then ripping them up

Ripping up a magazine or newspaper

Hitting a soft cushion, pillow or bean bag

Listening to loud music

Having a shower

Doing some exercise

Going for a walk outside, or taking the dog for a walk

Focusing on their breathing - how it feels in their body to breathe in and out

Wrapping up in a blanket or duvet

Talking to someone - a friend, family member or calling a helpline

Tidying or organising something

Doing a hobby they enjoy that helps them feel calm, such as painting, drawing, colouring-in, watching a favourite TV programme, playing video games, cooking or baking

Your child might want to use an app like Calm Harm so they have something on their phone that suggests different techniques they can try when they feel the urge to self-harm.

Helping your child over the longer term

Over the longer-term, becoming more aware of how they feel when they self-harm, what's making them feel this way and what kinds of things help, will empower your child to feel more in control. This will hopefully reduce the sense of being overwhelmed and the feeling that they need to self-harm. You can find more tips about this below.

It might help to start a conversation while walking outside or doing an activity, which can help your child to feel more relaxed and make it feel less like a 'big chat'. It can also help both of you to be in a neutral space, for example not in their bedroom. You can find our activity ideas for starting a conversation in our guide to talking to your child about mental health.

While you may understandably have lots of questions, it's important to remember your child is going through a tough time and may find this overwhelming. Focus on finding out how they're doing, without bombarding them for information.

Remember that your child may feel ashamed about self-harming and find it difficult to talk about. Let them come to you when they feel ready to talk, and reassure them that they can talk to you as often and for as long as they need to.

If your child is struggling to talk, they might find it easier to text you or write you a letter. This also gives you time to process what they've told you and think about how you'd like to respond.

When your child does open up, try to focus on listening, showing empathy and being curious about what it's like for them, rather than trying to 'fix' things straightaway. Sometimes they will just want you to listen and understand how they are feeling.

What kinds of thoughts are they having, and how do they feel in their bodies? For example, they might start to feel more zoned-out, or like they're full of panic. This can help them to recognise what feelings they're trying to cope with, and what they can do instead to express and manage these.

Keeping a mood diary might help them to understand this overtime - this could be as simple as a word, phrase or emoji that they note down each day.

Responding to self-harm - Roundup | YoungMinds Parents Lounge

There are different places where you can find help for your child. Speaking to your GP is often a good place to start, as they can discuss your concerns, speak to your child to find out how they're doing and let you know what support options are available. Depending on your child's situation, they can also refer them for an assessment by a mental health specialist or to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). You can speak to the GP yourself to explain the situation and ask for advice, even if your child doesn't want to talk to them.

Young people who are self-harming may find it particularly helpful to speak to a counsellor or therapist, who can help them to make sense of how they're feeling and work with them to find new ways of coping. Our guide to counselling services takes you through the process of finding a counsellor or therapist for your child.

You can find out more about speaking to GPs, finding a counsellor or therapist, accessing CAMHS, getting help from your child's school and finding local services on our guide to getting support from mental health services.

Trying to find the right help for your child and finding your way around different services can be really tiring at times - so keep reminding yourself that you're doing your best and that it's not easy.

Some young people who are self-harming will find it very difficult to speak to a professional, go to appointments or even acknowledge what's going on. If things are feeling stuck, you can call our Parents Helpline for information, advice and support.

Parents have found the following things helpful to keep in mind when seeking professional help:

If you're feeling under a lot of strain yourself, or that the situation is too much to manage as a parent, it's often a sign that more professional help is needed.

Try to speak to professionals early on, before things have escalated to a crisis situation.

Encourage your child to give themselves some time to get to know a professional and build trust, remembering that they might be starting from a very withdrawn place.

Ask if you can see the same professional each time, so that you and your child don't have to keep re-explaining the situation.

Be open minded about different types of treatment - remembering that what works for your child might not be the same as what would work for you.

It's important to take your child to hospital or to your GP if they have any injuries or wounds that require medical attention.

It can be helpful to understand as a parent that self-harm is often a coping mechanism to help someone manage, and isn't necessarily an expression of suicidal feelings or an attempt to take their own life. However, people who experience suicidal thoughts can be more likely to have self-harmed in the past. If you're worried that your child may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, read our guide to find out how you can access help.

If your child is having a mental health crisis and needs urgent help now, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

If your child's life is at risk, or if it does not feel like they're safe, please call 999 for an ambulance or take them straight to A&E.

Find urgent help

Finding out that your child is self-harming can be an incredibly distressing, or even traumatic, experience as a parent. It's completely normal to struggle with feelings of anxiety, confusion, sadness, anger, frustration, guilt or shame.

Try to take time when you can to check in with yourself, and to think about ways you can take care of yourself as well as your child. Remember that it's okay to ask for help when you need it, and to share your worries with someone you trust.

Many parents who have been in this situation find it helpful to reach out to other parents so they can talk through how they have handled difficult situations and found support. You may also be able to find a local parent support group using the Charlie Waller Trust directory.

If you need more help, speaking to your GP is a good place to start, and they may be able to refer you to a local support service. Sometimes it helps just having someone there who can listen to what you're going through - and if you need someone to talk to, you can call the Samaritans anytime on 116 123.

Useful helplines and websites

While we take care to ensure that the organisations we signpost to provide high quality information and advice, we cannot take responsibility for any specific pieces of advice they may offer. We encourage parents and carers to always explore the website of a linked service or organisation to understand who they are and what support they offer before engaging with them.

This page was reviewed in July 2021. It was created with parents and carers with lived experience of supporting their child or young person with self-harm. We will next review the page in 2024. YoungMinds is a proud member of PIF TICK - the UK's quality mark for trusted health information.
Whether you love the page or think something is missing, we appreciate your feedback. It all helps us to support more young people with their mental health.

Please be aware that this form isn't a mental health support service. If your child is in crisis right now and you want to talk to someone urgently, find out who to contact on our urgent help page.

At YoungMinds we take your privacy seriously. If you'd like to read more about how we keep the information we collect safe, take a look at our privacy policy.

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Self-Harm & Mental Health | Guide For Parents

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Read our guide to self-harm to learn more about what self-harm is, what the signs of self-harm are in a young person, and where to get support.

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The forum provides crisis support, information and resources,
advice, discussions and distractions.

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Please take note of the following: Due to the sensitivities of self harm, please exercise caution when using this website.

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Whether someone tells you directly, or you suspect that someone is hurting themselves, it can be difficult to know what to say and how best to approach the situation.

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Read our tips on how you can support someone who self-harms - and how to look after yourself.

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If you think someone you know has started to self-harm, it's important to approach the subject with care and understanding.

It can be very helpful to just be there and let them know they're not alone. But it's important to remember you may not be able to help them on your own.

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If you think someone you know has started to self-harm, it’s important to approach the subject with care and understanding.

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Discovering that someone you care about may be self-harming themself can really distressing, and while it’s normal to be concerned, it’s an area of mental health that’s often misunderstood.

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1. Put safety first

If someone is cut or harmed in some way, try to keep calm. Clean any wounds, and if the bleeding does not stop after a few minutes, they need to be taken to A&E.

Tips for managing in the moment

The sight of blood can make things seem worse than they really are, so try not to panic.

As difficult as it may be, take a deep breath and try to put your emotions aside.

Offer to help clean the wound but be aware that they may want to do this by themselves.

2. Try to put things into perspective

Self-harm is often mistaken for attempted suicide. While suicidal thoughts may exist, in most cases it is done to express emotional distress in a way that enables them to stay alive.

Why do children and adolescents self-harm?

Self-harm is likely to be an indication that the child lacks healthy coping skills.

Self-harming allows them to feel something physical that expresses their emotional pain.

The physical pain releases endorphins in the brain that may give them a feeling of short-term relief but is not a healthy long-term coping strategy.

3. Try to be supportive

Try to be patient and understanding. Let them know that you're there to support them and that you want to help.

Advice for parents supporting a child who is self-harming

It's a common misconception that self-harm is a form of attention seeking. In fact, attention may be the last thing they want and they're likely to keep cuts, scars or burns covered up.

Try to start a conversation but be aware it may be one they don't want. Start by asking them how they're doing and letting them know you're there for them.

If they do want to talk, try to simply listen rather than having all the answers.

4. Try to stay positive

Try to see the positives in the fact that a problem that was hidden has now come to light. Encourage them to speak to someone who can help, such as their GP, an adult at school or someone from the local mental health service.

Tips for maintaining a positive outlook

Difficult times are when we tend to learn the most. Try to view challenges and mistakes as part of a learning curve where each experience is making you better prepared for future challenges.

Allow yourself to find the humour in even the most difficult moments, and when things are tough remember that what's happening will probably make for a great story in the future.

Think about things that you are grateful for, however small, and try to visualise the future you hope for.

You can build resilience by reminding yourself of previous occasions when you've come through adversity and gained valuable experience.

5. Try to find safer alternatives

Work together to find alternatives that might recreate the sensation they need when they feel the urge to self-harm so that you limit the potential damage, but they still feel the sense of relief.

Tips for keeping them safe

It's likely to be a case of trial and error, but things like a slice of lemon or a chilli to bite on, some ice to hold or an elastic band on the wrist to snap against the skin have worked for some people, but don't be surprised if they don't work for your child.

If they're head banging, you could slide a pillow or cushion between their head and the hard surface to limit the potential damage, but they still feel the sense of relief it gives them.

It might also be a good idea to remove all sharp knives and razor blades. But be reasonable if your child has a legitimate reason for using one, like needing to shave.

Some additional resources that may help

For more advice on parenting a child with mental health issues, visit our dedicated page

NHS advice for helping someone who self-harms

Mind.org also offers dedicated advice for supporting a child who self-harms

For information on how to access NHS Mental health services click here

Download a printable version of this advice

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How to help someone who self-harms | ThisMayHelp

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Andrea McLean shares NHS Mental Health Experts' advice for parents who need support with a child affected by self-harm. Watch the video here.

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As a parent or carer it can be frightening to discover that your child or young person has harmed themselves on purpose. There are two main reasons that young people self-harm;

As a way to manage strong and overwhelming emotions

A way of reconnecting with life or their body.

Self-harm is not uncommon – a recent survey showed about 22% of young people aged 15 said they had self-harmed.

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Find advice on spotting self harm in children and young people at Just One Norfolk, with advice on support you can offer and getting professional help.

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NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

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Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.body
NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.body
NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.body
NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.body
NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.body
NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

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Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

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NSFT Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

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Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.

Use the hyperlinks below to find out more about the workshop and get the link to the video on YouTube:

The workshop is designed to explore some of the eating difficulties young people maybe facing at this time, to understand the way food can be used as a coping mechanism in times of stress, to address what a parent/carer can do that is helpful or not helpful, and importantly identify what are the red flags to alert a parent/carer to take action to get help, as well as where to get help. The workshop's focus is on providing easily accessible information in an interactive format which will encourage early intervention and prevention of the escalation of difficulties at this time.

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/93IRgw2VnOs

Life is always unpredictable, but we have been living with a much higher degree of uncertainty over this last year than is usual. This workshop will introduce strategies that parents/carers/professionals can support their young people to help them cope better with uncertainty now and in the years to come. Being able to adapt to situations by learning to tolerate emotions and cope with change reduces stress levels and is a great skill for life. This workshop is suitable for parents/carers of all children struggling in the current pandemic who would like to learn strategies they can teach their children to manage difficult thoughts, feelings, and situations. It is also helpful for professionals who might work with young people.

"What I will take away from tonight's session - Try to take the uncertain path instead of keeping to the safe route was new to me and I think will change my life and make my children's future better. Living life to the full instead of a half life like I feel has been the case".

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/e6sSkYLlll8

This workshop explores how we make sense of what we are all experiencing at the moment. It will consider the most significant challenges posed by the pandemic for both parents and young people (including anxiety and low mood) while also thinking about the most helpful ways to manage these challenges.

"I found your session so helpful as it made me feel that I am not alone as a parent, that we are all going through this together. It made me feel that actually 'I'm doing an ok job' and not to be too hard on myself. I found the biochemistry side of things fascinating and it was exactly the things that are happening with my son. It made me feel reenergised and to 'keep going'."

View the video on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/FzUrOntfbnU

This workshop is for parents of school aged children to help them understand anxiety better. The session covers: what is anxiety, why anxiety, how it effects the brain, how it effects the body, how it impacts on what we do and don't do and how parents can support their children/adolescents who might be struggling with anxiety.

"Connection over correction - its very difficult to do this and I often need reminding! ideas to help Children move from reassurance to self-assurance was useful as I'm often exhausted from having to reassure constantly!"

View the video on our YouTube channel: Anxiety in Adolescence - YouTube

All of our young people have days when they feel low, this is perfectly normal. Sometimes this low mood hangs around for a bit longer and starts to make it much more difficult for our young people to do the things that are important to them and have the kind of relationships they want to have with others. For us as parents it can be hard to spot these difficulties especially among all the other changes that are happening in adolescence. This workshop will help you to have a better understanding of why our young people are more vulnerable to low mood once they reach adolescence, the warning signs and some evidence based strategies to best support your young person.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting Our Young People with Low Mood - Parent Workshop - YouTube

This workshop explores what resilience is and why it is important for our young people. The sessions focus on five key components to wellbeing and resilience and suggests practical support for our young people in each of these five areas. The workshop pays particular attention to the approaching summer holidays and the opportunities these offer.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Building resilience - managing the next steps - YouTube

Experiencing sleep difficulties at some stage in our lives is common. We know that children and young people can particularly struggle with their sleep. Sleep difficulties are not only frustrating, but they start to impact on our mood and everyday lives.

This sleep workshop is aimed at parents and carers who have children over 11 years old who may be experiencing difficulties with their sleep. The workshop, delivered by the Psychology in Schools Team, covers important topics such as:

why we need sleep

why teenagers may struggle more with this

what you can do to support your young person to have a better night's sleep

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting our Children and Adolescents with Sleep workshop - YouTube

During adolescence, the brain is going through some very big changes - these changes are positive and support our young people to make the transition into adulthood. However, these changes can be confusing and understanding what is happening in the teenage brain is incredibly helpful. This session will explore these brain changes and how they impact on all aspects of our adolescent's life, including mood, behaviour, risk taking and relationships. We will also explore what we can do to strengthen our relationships with our young people and support them through this period of development. With thanks to Dr Hazel Harrison for the brilliant brain house illustration.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Parent workshop: Supporting our teenagers with emotions - YouTube

Dr Hope Westgate and Dr Tamara Scully, Clinical Psychologists from NSFT, deliver a workshop for parents on 'supporting children to manage big feelings'. This workshop includes information on children's emotional development and what is happening in their brain when they are experiencing big emotions. It also provides practical and supportive guidance on what are some of the things that parents can do to support their children with the emotions they experience. This workshop is primarily aimed at parents of children who are under 12.

View the video on our YouTube channel: Supporting your child to manage their big feelings - YouTube

Live workshops

You can get information about the latest LIVE workshops by logging into Eventbrite and following the Psychology in Schools team. You will then be notified of upcoming workshops and have a link to book onto these.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Our psychology in schools team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.