New parent and child therapy service starts in York
The Retreat is aiming to help parents understand and support their children with a host of new techniques.
A new service which helps parents to better understand and support their children has started in York.
The Retreat says it'll help parents overcome difficult situations and have a more intimate bond with their child.
The Retreat says: "Understanding how to respond to children and address their needs is often challenging for parents.
"There may be times when you just don’t know how to deal with a situation or talk to your children about something.
"Child-parent therapists work with parents and children together, supporting them to know what to expect at each stage of their child’s development
"Using activities to practice specific techniques, experts can help parents overcome difficult situations and confrontations, avoid stressful situations and have a more intimate bond with their child."
The Retreat’s parent-child therapy uses a number of special techniques, working with highly qualified therapists.
One technique, explains Jennifer Bailey, Clinical Lead and Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, involves ‘Reflective Functioning’: "This is a way in which we can really support a parent’s ability to understand and engage with their child in very difficult situations. It’s the ability to imagine mental states in ourselves and others. Once we can understand this, we can really improve your relationship with your child."
Phil Barker is a therapist at The Retreat and a family practitioner: "What we're looking to do is enable parents to try and better understand the pressures that their children are suffering.
"The crux of it is to recognise the holistic approach that is of benefit to children now.
"I still find it difficult to put into the words the responsibility I feel as a parent, and that's when things are going well! When things become challenging then obviously it becomes a huge pressure on parents.
"I'd suggest that outside of the war years I don't think there's been a period where children have been under more unexpected pressure than they have been now.
"As a parent and as someone who works in the field looking to be proactive and reactive in how we meet the needs of children - it's huge. I don't think there's anything more important in society than caring for the needs of our children".
More information on The Retreat can be found at www.theretreatyork.org.uk