How do my parenting support sessions work?
Parent Support Sessions take place online via Zoom and usually last for one hour. You will be sent a zoom link a few days in advance of our session. They can also take place via phone call if connectivity is an issue or if that is your preference.
Sessions can be attended by one or both parents. It is great when both parents can attend as different parents will have different experiences and insights into their child. It is also helpful when trying out new ways of responding to difficulties that both parents are consistent and singing from the same hymn sheet, as it were!
I aim to make the sessions as responsive and supportive as possible by giving you lots of time and space to let me know all about your child/ teenager eg what they are interested in, what their strengths are and then we will explore their struggles and look at how best to respond in order to support them.
Sometimes, if it’s appropriate I will build in some psychoeducation around child development, brain development and what is typical for children at your child’s age and stage.
Lots of parents find that helpful to contextualise their understanding of what might be happening.
I can make suggestions for different approaches and strategies to try out, and you are welcome to try them if they fit for you and your family. You can then let me know how they worked when we meet again.
I aim to try to be responsive to what it is you that you need and want to prioritise in your session, so sessions are very much led and paced by the parent themselves. Parents will very often set these goals when they fill in the session booking form.
After your session, with your consent, I may email you some useful information, links, handouts, podcasts or articles based on the content of our meeting and how you like to take in new information!
Some parents choose to attend for interim parenting support whilst they are waiting for their child to begin seeing a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist.
Some parents contact me and use Parent Support Services preventatively to prepare for something big that may be happening in the family.
Some parents will contact me to work on a specific issue or difficulty they are experiencing.
Perhaps most importantly, Cathy identified the parenting strengths I already had and gave me the confidence to trust myself more as a mother. I know that I will continue to work with Cathy from time to time throughout my child’s life when I need some extra support.
Parent Support Client
What are the benefits of Parent Support Sessions?
Parent Support Sessions give parents a safe space to be listened to, heard and understood.
They empower parents with new insights and ways of understanding their child. This helps parents to respond differently as opposed to reacting!
When you see things differently you will be able to do things differently!
Parent Support sessions give parents new awareness and support around their own struggles, triggers and overwhelm. I support parents to get to know themselves and their triggers better. This promotes more self-awareness, self-reflection and self-compassion which promotes lots of healthy growth in parents and lots of very healthy modelling for children to see! Lots of parents tell me how much things change for the better in their families after they have committed to attending some parent support sessions. This is my favourite of all the benefits!
What kind of difficulties can Parent Support Sessions help
with?
Parent Support sessions can help with a wide variety of issues, including, but not limited to:
- Helping your child/ teenager with anxiety
- Supporting your child with emotion regulation difficulties
- Understanding dysregulation and supporting children using co- regulation strategies
- Improving communication and connection within the family
- Setting boundaries and limits effectively
- Understanding typical childhood struggles from a developmental perspective
- Maintaining connectedness and good communication with your child/ teenager
- Building your child’s confidence and independence
- Resourcing your child with coping skills, building their self-esteem and resilience
- Understanding and managing your own triggers and reactions as a parent
- Learning to manage parental stress and overwhelm, looking at self- care
- Supporting your child with a diagnosed or developmental difficulty
- Supporting your child after a traumatic event
- Supporting your child with an anticipated or recent bereavement
- Supporting your child with peer or sibling difficulties
How often will I need Parent Support Sessions?
That is entirely up to you! I generally recommend a minimum of three sessions to give us a chance to get to know each other, explore your concerns and allow time for follow up after we have put some new ways of responding into place.
Some parents attend regularly on a weekly/ fortnightly basis. Some parents opt for monthly sessions. Some parents check back in as needed.
Whatever works for you and the needs you have as a parent will be the way for us to go!
Is my session private and confidential?
As with any session with a mental health professional your sessions are private and
confidential. Anything that we discuss will be treated with the utmost sensitivity and discretion.
It is standard practice for mental health professionals to bring their work to a clinical
supervisor. All identifying details are removed when exploring clinical work in supervision.
I work under Children First guidelines and I am obliged to refer any child welfare or child protection concerns onto the relevant authorities. Confidentiality cannot be guaranteed where there is an identified risk to a child.
Please note I do not become involved in legal proceedings or provide court reports or letters for court.
How much do they cost and how do I pay?
Parent support sessions cost €90. This is payable at the time of booking.
Parent Support Sessions can be booked here
What if I need to cancel my session?
I require 2 days’ notice of cancellation. There will be no charge in this event.
Cancellations within 24 hours will be charged at 50% rate. Credit can be refunded or applied to your next session.
On the day cancellations/ no shows will be charged at full rate.
Please give as much notice of intention to cancel as you can, as there are waiting lists in place for parent support sessions.
The Swallow's Trail 