Therapy for Parents
Therapy for Parents in Hampshire
Being a parent has no set definition and every family looks different. Whether you’re raising children on your own, co-parenting, or navigating family life with a partner, it’s completely normal to face challenges along the way. In the face of those challenges, it’s important to remain strong and calm for both your child and your partner. That’s where therapy for parents can help.
As a leading therapist for parents in Hampshire, I am dedicated to helping families navigate the complexities of parenthood. Therapy for parents helps you understand not only your role in your child’s life but also helps you take care of your own needs.
I realise that the journey of parenthood isn’t linear. Children start from being completely reliant on you for survival to growing and developing their own unique personalities and pushing boundaries. Depending on a variety of factors, many parents struggle to keep up with the changing demands of parenthood in the 21st century.
Some common challenges you may face include having to live up to unrealistic expectations as a parent, the fear of not being enough, etc. Additionally, rising living costs, job uncertainty and having children with learning or other disabilities can leave parents dealing with severe, often unnoticed mental health struggles.
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A study reported that 68% of women and 57% of men who suffer from mental health issues are parents. The most common issues they face include PTSD, postpartum depression and anxiety from a difficult childbirth or pregnancy.
As a parent who understands the challenge of balancing family life, career, and personal wellbeing, I offer an empowering and non-judgemental space for other parents to explore their struggles. My therapeutic approach acknowledges how parental mental health concerns are overlooked, and I work with you to help you regain a sense of control.
I am Dr Sonney Gullu-McPhee, a clinical psychologist who has helped many parents address their most intimate concerns. Join me at my Petersfield clinic or online across the UK for therapy sessions, or book a 15-minute complimentary consultation with me today.
Common Issues Addressed in Therapy for Parents
Parents are often met with quick judgments, yet the emotional reality of caring for a child while also tending to their own needs can go unseen. You might be dealing with your own struggles, marital problems or financial issues, but being a parent is a full-time job. How you react to the varying situations in your life can have a long-standing impact on your child’s well-being.
Some common issues that I address when offering therapy for parents include:
Comparison with other parents and adjusting to social standards of being an ideal parent, despite differing circumstances, can rob you of the joys of parenthood. In my therapy sessions for parents, I help you address such concerns that may be affecting your relationship with your child and partner and help you feel content with yourself.
As a parent, if you are undergoing a divorce or separation from your partner, it can make it challenging to nurture your kids while dealing with the emotional fallout.
In my therapy sessions for parents, I help you navigate this transition and empower you to feel more confident. Helping you make the right choices, while being more present for your children and providing them with a happy, nurturing environment.
Raising a child with disabilities, whether behavioural, learning or physical, can take a huge emotional and psychological toll. In our sessions, I offer a non-judgmental space for you to process your emotions without guilt and develop healthy ways of coping with the challenges you face.
I will also work with you to build emotional resilience and process the trauma associated with the diagnosis or treatment. As a parent myself, I truly believe that every parent-child bond is unique and beautiful, and sometimes, all it needs is a little support.
Experiencing death or bereavement can impact you deeply, often in ways you don’t expect. Whether you are dealing with the loss of a spouse or a family member, the ripple effect of grief can affect those close to you, especially young children.
In my therapy sessions for parents, I offer you an empathetic and safe space to explore emotions such as grief, anger, anxiety and guilt. By working through these difficult emotions, you support your own healing and create more space to be present for a child who is grieving the loss of a parent or sibling.
Communicating with pre-teens and teenagers can feel overwhelming, and you may find yourself at an impasse. Most communication gaps between parents and children arise from different communication styles, lack of active listening, changes in developmental stage, busy and stressful lives and social media.
During my therapy for parents sessions, I help you explore these challenges with clarity and compassion, while offering practical tools to ease communication and strengthen your connection.
Has your child left home for university or work? Are you suffering from empty nest syndrome? Do you have a blended family? It can be difficult to manage significant life changes, especially if you’re supporting children through those changes as well.
During my therapy sessions for parents, I will help you learn how to navigate life’s challenges and changes without feeling overwhelmed. Children can struggle to keep pace with the change, and as a parent, the more emotionally equipped you are, the better you can help them.
How Dr McPhee’s Therapy for Parents Can Help
In my therapy sessions for parents, I empower you with the right tools to overcome your challenges. Instead of feeling helpless and overwhelmed, you learn how to navigate parenthood with confidence and grace.
Instead of relying on a single therapeutic intervention, my therapy sessions follow an integrated approach. Depending on your needs, we will explore a combination of schema therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing therapy (EMDR) and mindfulness.
Let’s explore the therapies in more detail:
CBT is a collaborative talk therapy that helps identify negative thoughts and emotions that shape your role as a parent. It will help you find more positive and empowering ways to deal with the challenges.
Schema therapy helps identify the negative patterns in your life and how they impact your current relationship with your child. This can help resolve past traumas and help you be more in control of your future.
For parents who are victims of trauma, EMDR can help process the emotional impact. EMDR helps to focus the brain and desensitise traumatic memories. It is especially helpful for those who have experienced neglect or abuse as a child or have lost a spouse or child in their adult life.
Mindfulness practices, such as deep breathing, will help you feel comforted and less mentally drained. Being a parent can be an overwhelming experience, and mindfulness techniques keep you grounded and present.
My Therapy for Parents Process
Why Choose Dr McPhee for Therapy for Parents?
I follow an integrated approach to therapy for parents, which aligns with NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) guidelines. I’m an ISST-certified advanced schema therapist and chartered clinical psychologist with more than 15 years of expertise. I offer my therapy sessions in Petersfield, Hampshire or even online and ensure they are safe, confidential and non-judgemental.
Therapy for Parents With Dr McPhee
As a psychologist and mother, from a multicultural background, I understand the struggles and challenges of being a parent. My therapy sessions for parents will help you rediscover your individual identity while also being present for your child and spouse.
You can choose between in-person sessions at my Petersfield clinic or online. Book a complimentary 15-minute consultation via email or call.
Therapy for parents will help you understand your own struggles and how past experiences influence your relationship with your child. It will help reduce stress, emotional burnout and help you communicate better with your children.
I use a blended technique during my therapeutic sessions, which allows you to address different problems effectively. All my therapy sessions are tailored to individual circumstances for greater success.
Therapy for parents is primarily targeted towards you and your partner, the parents. Children are not involved during therapy sessions. My expertise lies in working with adults, and for your children, you can choose professionals attuned to their needs. If you would like a clinical psychologist for your child, i can make appropriate recommendations.
The number of sessions will depend on the individual cases. Depending on the intensity of your circumstances, you may require fewer sessions or a longer-term approach.
Everything we discuss will remain completely confidential and is required to remain confidential as per the law. So you can be honest and open in your therapy session. If you prefer, you can also book a complimentary consultation with me to understand whether you and I are a good fit.
Please schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore how we might work together.