Counselling and psychotherapy can be a hugely beneficial part of the support offered within fostering and adoption. For that reason I offer sessions for parent, professionals and young people. I am fully trained with a Msc in Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy and am a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP), adhering to their ethical framework. I have over 1000 hours of clinical practice in this area.
My counselling services take place in my therapy room in South Solihull (near M42 junc 4). Alternatively it may be delivered over the phone or via video-calling across the UK if appropriate. Please see my general counselling information page for details regarding my practice such as fees, the counselling process and my availability.
Counselling for Parents
I offer a unique service in which parents can receive support from someone who is not just a fully qualified counsellor and psychotherapist but is also a foster-adopt parent too. My counselling service is generic – talk about the child(ren) or don’t, the choice is entirely yours. Some people want to address the issues raised by living alongside their child and for other people it’s about addressing other issues in their lives.
Counselling for Professionals
Working within fostering and adoption means continually exposing yourself to trauma. This is not easy. Particularly when most of us also work within every changing teams of people, with high caseloads, pressure to achieve often unrealistic targets and we may feel we lack good therapeutic supervision.
Added to that, as well as being a ‘professional’, we are also human and may experience difficulties in our home life or have unresolved difficulties from our past. I am able to work with fostering and adoption professionals with awareness of these issues in light of their working role.
Counselling for Children and Young People.
I believe that the best therapeutic intervention for a child is that of his or her parent(s). However, I recognise that some children benefit from engaging in therapy and therefore I offer attachment-focused therapy which is informed by Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, therapeutic life story work and play therapy as well as other helpful theories and practices. This means that the parent is usually also engaged in the therapy process with the aim of strengthening their relationship with the child. The focus of the work varies according to individual need but often includes exploring life story, understanding behaviour, relationship enhancing activities, development of helpful coping strategies etc.
If this may benefit your child please do contact me. However, please note that I do not offer therapy for children/families over the phone or via video-calling so unfortunately I can only work with families in easy reach of Solihull or those who are prepared to travel to me.
Counselling & Adoption
In accordance with the law, I cannot offer counselling that is solely focused on adoption alone unless this is funded or in partnership with the local authority or an adoption agency. This means I cannot independently support people to adopt, actively trace birth families or access adoption records. I can however work with families and individuals connected to adoption where other issues are present such as trauma, attachment, loss, relationship difficulties etc. If you are unclear at all, please do contact me.
