Parent & Family Support
Supporting a child or young person with complex SEND, developmental trauma, attachment difficulties or emotional regulation needs can place significant demands on the whole family.
Our Parent & Family Support is designed to help parents and carers better understand the needs beneath behaviour, strengthen relationships and develop practical, consistent approaches that can support regulation, connection and everyday family life.
Support is individualised and may be offered alongside a child or young person’s wider therapeutic, Occupational Therapy, Alternative Provision or EOTAS package.
DDP-Informed Family Support
Our practice is informed by the principles of Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP).
DDP is an attachment-focused therapeutic approach developed by Dr Daniel Hughes and is commonly associated with work involving children and young people who have experienced developmental trauma, disrupted attachment or significant early adversity.
Within Sense Inclusion, DDP-informed practice can support parents and carers to:
- Develop greater understanding of behaviour and emotional responses
- Strengthen connection and attachment relationships
- Respond with increased curiosity, empathy and acceptance
- Build emotional safety
- Understand the impact of early trauma on development
- Support regulation and co-regulation
- Develop more consistent therapeutic responses at home
Understanding Sensory & Emotional Regulation
For some children and young people, sensory processing and emotional regulation are closely connected. Parent and family support may therefore include helping families understand:
- Individual sensory differences
- Triggers for dysregulation
- Patterns of avoidance, overwhelm or heightened arousal
- Co-regulation
- Environmental adaptations
- Activities that may support regulation
- The interaction between sensory, emotional and relational needs
Where Occupational Therapy input is required, this can be coordinated with our Occupational Therapist as part of the wider Sense Inclusion team.
Support for Adoptive, Foster & Kinship Families
We have particular experience supporting families caring for children and young people who have experienced early adversity, developmental trauma or disrupted attachment relationships. This may include:
- Adoptive families
- Foster carers
- Special Guardians
- Kinship carers
- Families supporting children with complex developmental and emotional needs
Support focuses on understanding the child or young person within the context of their developmental experiences rather than viewing difficulties solely as behaviour.
Parent Consultation & Therapeutic Guidance
Support may include:
- Individual parent/carer consultation
- Therapeutic guidance
- Psychoeducation around trauma and attachment
- Support with emotional regulation and co-regulation
- Sensory-informed strategies
- Relationship-based approaches
- Understanding behaviour as communication
- Support around transitions and significant change
- Collaborative planning with other professionals
Working as Part of the Wider Team
Where appropriate and with consent, Parent & Family Support can be coordinated with the child or young person’s therapist, Occupational Therapist, education setting, local authority or other professionals.T his helps create greater consistency around the child or young person and supports a shared understanding of their needs.