Parent-Led CBT

When your child is struggling, it can feel like you’re constantly second guessing yourself.
Is this anxiety? Is it ‘just a phase’? Am I helping or accidentally making things worse?

Parent-Led CBT is designed to help parents and carers of children aged 4–10 feel more confident, informed and supported in helping their child manage emotional and behavioural difficulties. This might include anxiety, emotional outbursts, sleep difficulties, emotionally based school avoidance or behaviour that feels difficult to manage at home.

CBT stands for Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. In simple terms, CBT helps us understand how thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical sensations all connect and how small changes in behaviour can make a big difference to how a child feels emotionally.

In Parent-Led CBT, I work directly with you as the parent or carer. You become the co-therapist(s) between sessions, using practical strategies to support your child in everyday life. This works particularly well for younger children because you know them better than anybody else. You are with them during the moments that matter most and have the opportunity to make the biggest impact. I also think it’s unreasonable to expect a young child to be able self-regulate/make changes on their own!

My role is not to judge your parenting or tell you that you’ve done something wrong. It’s to help you understand what might be happening underneath your child’s behaviour and give you clear, evidence-based tools to respond differently and more confidently.

Parent-Led CBT is a short-term intervention usually delivered over 8–10 weeks following an assessment session. This includes:

• 4-5 x 50-minute online sessions
• 2-3 x 30-minute phone sessions
• Additional follow-up sessions if needed

I adapt the work to your child and family’s needs, including neurodivergent children and families who may need a more flexible or affirming approach.

Many parents come to me feeling exhausted, worried and unsure what else to try. My aim is that you leave sessions understanding your child more clearly, feeling less alone, and knowing what practical steps to take next so home feels calmer, communication feels easier, and your child can move towards feeling safer and more confident in themselves.