Therapeutic Parenting Group

Building or rebuilding a parent-child relationship starts with a desire for togetherness, is strengthened by a foundation of understanding and reinforced by the support provided by the therapeutic relationship with a therapist. Kim Golding’s Foundations for Attachment programme forms the basis for our adapted program. In the program we hope to help parents develop an understanding of their young person’s emotional development, help parents build therapeutic parenting skills and practice consistent self care in a holistic manner.

Relational Minds has adapted the original program (that was written for foster carers and residential staff) to be suitable for biological parents, teachers and other professionals. Great care needs to be taken in the language used when working with biological parents who may feel a sense of guilt about their situation. Our Therapeutic Parenting Group is non judgmental and focused on building trust through repair of relationships. The founding principles are based on neuroscience and attachment theory; this process works!

The adapted program consists of 3 modules and can be delivered individually or in a group format.

Individual Parents/Carers

• The program is delivered in 6 fortnightly sessions Online through Zoom (approx 1.5h each)
• After the group program, ongoing support can be provided through the Connection phase of our Parenting For Mental Health process where we will help parents focus on certain aspects of the program and help with their implementation.
• The difference in this program compared to other Parent-Child Relationship programs is that you will be provided with the foundational knowledge that you need to set up your relationship with your child.  Without this element, the strategies you learn in this and other programs may feel like they don’t work.  The relationship foundation is the key to success for your parenting strategies. 
• The parenting program we have based on is informed by DDP principles and has passed through the DDPI endorsement process. It is recommended that DDPI Endorsed Parenting Programs are run only run by facilitators who have undertaken at least Level One and are confident in the use and modelling of PACE.
• All clinicians, and indeed our whole organisation is grounded in the principles of Dyadic Developmental Practice and are trained in DDP.  We provide the rich relational aspect that is essential to developing a therapeutic alliance, promote learning and building confidence in the parent, empowering them to promote their child and family’s recovery from mental health difficulties.

Goals for Therapeutic Parenting

1. Build the child’s capacity to feel vulnerable and sad.
2. Build the child’s capacity to be curious
3. Build the child’s capacity for relational joy

The Modules