I work with parents, children, adolescents and families of all kinds at every stage of their child’s lives.
Including parents-to-be and new parents.
I place a high value on working with parents as it the parent/s who are raising the child and is/are the central person in the child’s life. I consider parent work to be particularly effective and where possible I will work with parents even when it is the child or adolescent who presents with struggles.
I work with pregnant mothers, soon-to-be parents who may wish to think about themselves as a parent before the baby’s arrival. Thinking about your wishes and hopes and fears before the baby arrives can be extremely worthwhile. Parents-to-be may be concerned about their relationship with their own parents. They may hope to raise their child differently from how they were raised. Alternatively they may be wanting to replicate their own experience of childhood.
I work with parents who may be concerned about their school aged child struggling with issues such as identity questioning, anxiety, sadness, depression, fear, lack of confidence, problems at school or with friendship.
Adolescence creates particular challenges for parents. I support parents who may feel anxious, worried and uncertain as their adolescent seeks to establish their own identity and peer group away from the parents, or may be sad, fearful, anxious, depressed, angry, identity questioning, has difficulties with relationships.
Each stage of being a parent brings its own set of challenges. As well as concern for their child’s or adolescent’s struggles parents may seek support for many other issues of their own, including: parental conflict, step-parenthood, divorce, family conflict, estrangements, family secrets, identity questioning, adoption, IVF.
When working with a child I take into account the child’s age and developmental stage. The work may include play therapy and drawing and story writing.
When I work individually with a child, I always schedule additional sessions for the parent or parents so that we can think and understand together what is troubling their child.
Working with adolescents, there is no one size fits all. But generally the work is less similar to child work and closer to adult work in that it is based in conversation.
Depending on the age of the adolescent and their particular circumstance, I may work only with the adolescent. At other times I may work with the adolescent and the parents.
Nada Lane 