Parenting Support
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In this work, I stand as an ally to the children — the ones you carry within you, and the ones you parent.
For over 20 years, I have worked with children, young people, and families in crisis, supporting them to feel more confident, connected, and empowered.
My work is rooted in strengthening relationships, rebuilding trust after trauma, and helping families create safety, understanding, and lasting bonds.
Over the years I have worked in family homes and children’s centres, facilitated parenting groups, and supported parents to develop play skills that nurture attunement, confidence, and connection. I have also supported families parenting traumatised children, helping caregivers rebuild safety by deepening understanding, improving connection, and strengthening the bonds between parent and child.
Why Parenting Can Feel So Hard
Becoming a parent is hard. We often enter it with only our own experiences of being parented to guide us through what can feel like the most demanding job in the world — one we cannot resign from or easily walk away from.
There are many parenting books and courses that offer direction, but without someone to truly hear your unique family circumstances — to understand your pain, your worries, and what may be happening beneath the behaviour — lasting change can feel out of reach. Especially when the focus stays solely on the child, rather than on the relationship between you.
We know that the conditions in which we grew up shape how we think, feel, and relate to the world. This naturally shows up in our closest relationships, particularly in parenting.
Parenting as a Partnership
Parenting together is a unique partnership, and it requires its own set of skills.
In my experience, many family struggles begin when two people come together to raise a child and, although they may want the same outcome, they hold different beliefs about how to get there. When those differences feel difficult to bridge, it can create tension and uncertainty within the home.
Children often absorb that confusion, and it can show up in behaviours that neither parent wants — not because anyone is failing, but because the family system is asking for support, clarity, and connection.
I believe that when parents are given the space to explore their beliefs, values, and ways of seeing the world, they can begin to make choices from awareness rather than reaction. From there, it becomes possible to move beyond simply repeating old family histories — and instead create a shared, intentional way of being with each other and with your child and your unique style.
I enjoy supporting couples of any gender to parent with greater confidence and care, drawing on their own wisdom, deeper understanding, and thoughtfully chosen ways of doing family life.
When Deeper Healing Is Needed
A further complication can arise when one or both parents are carrying unresolved attachment trauma or childhood wounds. These can begin to play out in the parent–parent relationship or within the parent–child dynamic.
In these situations, deeper healing may be needed, and it can be helpful for one or both parents to engage in individual therapy alongside parenting support.
This is something I can support you to understand and work with.
Who Is Parenting Support For?
Parenting support is for you if you are feeling overwhelmed, stuck, or unsure how to respond to what is happening within your family. You may feel as though you have tried everything, yet the same patterns keep repeating.
This support can be helpful if you are experiencing:
frequent conflict, tension, or emotional outbursts at home
challenges with boundaries, routines, or behaviour
feelings of overwhelm, exhaustion, or burnout as a parent
anxiety, shutdown, or emotional dysregulation within the family
difficulty communicating or feeling disconnected from your child
parenting differences or conflict between parents/carers
a family transition such as separation, bereavement, moving house, or a new baby
concerns about your child’s confidence, wellbeing, or emotional resilience
struggles with teen behaviour, withdrawal, or heightened conflict
Parenting support is also for you if you want to create a calmer home environment, strengthen connection, and feel more confident in your role as a parent — while staying true to your own values and your child’s needs.
You don’t need to be in crisis to seek support. Sometimes it’s simply about having a safe, confidential space to reflect, gain perspective, and find a more grounded way forward.
How Does This Work?
During an initial assessment consultation, we will explore your needs, aims, and hopes for parenting support, so we can be clear that we are working together towards the same goals.
To gain a deeper understanding of what may be happening within the family, I offer home visits to observe family dynamics. This allows me to gently reflect back what I notice, offer guidance to support connection and understanding, and help you shift unhelpful patterns or behaviours — creating more calm, harmony, and cohesion at home.
Do get in touch to arrange an initial telephone call which will help us decide how to move forwards. We can then follow this up with an online meeting and progress to in-person and home visits if required.
Moving forward, we will decide together how often we will meet. These sessions, whether in person or online, allow us to review progress, explore any issues arising from change, unpick any teething difficulties, and adjust the approach as needed.
I look forward to supporting you. Ellie