Find a Parenting Therapist

What parenting support covers

Parenting support is about the relationship between you and your child and the practical patterns that shape family life. It covers the daily realities of routines and boundaries as well as deeper themes such as attachment, parental confidence, and the impact of earlier life experiences on how you relate to your child. You might seek help for a baby who will not sleep, a toddler with frequent tantrums, a school-age child struggling at school, or a teenager who has become withdrawn or defiant. Support can also help when family structures change - for example following separation, a new partner, or when you are co-parenting across two households.

Many people reach out not because of a crisis but because they want clearer strategies, calmer interactions and a stronger sense of connection with their child. A counsellor who specialises in parenting will work with the everyday alongside the emotional - helping you understand patterns, try new responses and reflect on what works for your family.

Signs you might benefit from parenting therapy

You might find parenting overwhelming much of the time, or you may notice that small conflicts escalate beyond what you expect. If you feel persistently exhausted, unusually angry, or guilty about the way you respond to your child, these are signs that support could help. You may also be concerned about your child’s behaviour if routines are breaking down, if mealtimes or bedtimes are a battleground, or if school or friendships are affected. Changes in your own mood, sleep or confidence as a parent can be indicators that a supportive space to reflect would be useful.

Sometimes parents come because they are worried about repeating patterns from their own childhood. At other times the issue may be practical - you may be returning to work, navigating a new parenting role, or trying to balance caring responsibilities. If disagreements with a co-parent are frequent and affecting family life, working with a counsellor can help you develop communication strategies and clearer boundaries that reduce friction for everyone.

What to expect in parenting therapy sessions

When you first contact a counsellor you will usually be offered an initial consultation to discuss what brings you and what you hope to change. That session is an opportunity to talk about your family context, any safeguarding concerns and to ask about the counsellor’s experience with similar issues. From there you and the counsellor will set goals together - these may be small and practical, such as improving sleep routines, or broader, such as building more patience and presence in interactions with your child.

Sessions often mix reflection with practical skills. You will be invited to look at triggers for difficult moments and to experiment with alternative responses. Homework or practice tasks are common - these might include small behaviour experiments at home, keeping brief notes about what helped or did not help, or role-playing conversations with a co-parent. If children are older, there may be joint sessions where the counsellor works with you and your child together to explore communication and rebuild trust.

The pace of therapy varies. Some families benefit from a short-term programme that focuses on a specific behaviour or routine, while others prefer ongoing work to address long-standing patterns or to support transitions such as the arrival of a new sibling, moving house, or adolescence.

Common therapeutic approaches for parenting

Attachment-informed and relationship-focused work

Many parenting counsellors draw on attachment theory to understand how patterns of relating form between you and your child. That perspective helps you recognise how emotional needs, responses to stress and early experiences influence current behaviour. The goal is to strengthen the emotional connection between you and your child so that difficult behaviour can be seen and responded to with compassion and consistency rather than punishment.

Behavioural and skills-based approaches

When the focus is on change in daily routines and behaviour, counsellors may use skills-based approaches that teach clear strategies for setting limits, rewarding positive behaviour and managing transitions. These methods are practical and structured, often involving agreed routines and consistent consequences so that children know what to expect. You will practise techniques with support and receive feedback to refine them for your family.

Systemic and family therapy

Systemic work looks at the family as a network of relationships and patterns. If tensions are arising between partners, or if extended family dynamics are contributing to stress, a systemic approach helps you see how each person influences the others and explores different ways of interacting. This can be especially helpful when co-parenting arrangements require negotiation and agreement.

CBT and acceptance-based approaches

Cognitive behavioural therapy can be helpful for parents who struggle with worry, rigid expectations or unhelpful thinking that fuels stress. Acceptance-based methods help you clarify values as a parent and develop skills to stay present and responsive even in challenging moments. These approaches focus on changing the way you relate to thoughts and feelings so that behaviour follows intention more consistently.

Trauma-informed care

Where a parent or child has experienced trauma, trauma-informed approaches are sensitive to the ways past events influence current responses. A trauma-informed counsellor will prioritise safety, pacing and the development of coping resources before tackling distressing memories or patterns. If you have experienced complex trauma yourself, it is appropriate to ask a counsellor about their training in trauma-informed care and their registration with professional bodies in the UK such as BACP or HCPC.

How online parenting therapy works

Online parenting therapy offers flexibility - you can meet with a counsellor from home or another convenient location. Sessions are commonly held by video call, which allows face-to-face interaction, or by phone where that suits you better. Messaging or shorter check-in options may be available between sessions to support practice of new skills. Some counsellors can observe parent-child interactions remotely to offer coaching and feedback, while others focus on parent-only work.

When working online you will want to choose a quiet, comfortable environment for sessions where you will not be interrupted. A good counsellor will explain how they handle your notes and personal information under data protection rules, and will discuss safeguarding responsibilities in line with UK practice. If you prefer in-person meetings, many counsellors offer a mix of online and clinic appointments to suit your family’s needs.

Tips for choosing the right parenting counsellor

Start by looking for counsellors who specifically mention parenting, family therapy or child development in their profiles. Check that they are registered or accredited with recognised UK bodies such as BACP, HCPC or the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society. These registrations indicate that a counsellor works to professional standards and receives regular supervision.

Consider the age range and issues the counsellor lists as their specialisms - support for early years is different from teenage work, and some practitioners specialise in neurodiversity or in supporting parents with health concerns. Read about their therapeutic approach and think about whether you prefer a skills-based, practical style or a reflective, relationship-focused way of working. Availability, session length, fees and whether they can liaise with schools or other professionals are practical matters to check before you begin.

It is reasonable to arrange an initial conversation to get a sense of rapport and to ask how they would approach your situation. Good therapy depends as much on the relationship you form with your counsellor as it does on the approach they use. If a counsellor suggests targeted programmes or additional resources, ask how progress will be reviewed and what the expected timeframe might be. Ultimately the right match will feel realistic and hopeful - offering practical steps you can try and a supportive forum to reflect on what helps your family thrive.