Parental Support & Strategy
Sometimes the most helpful place to begin is with you
When your young person doesn't want to attend therapy
Parental Strategy Consultation offers parents support when their young person isn’t open to therapy or doesn’t want to attend right now.
These sessions give parents space to think things through, make sense of what’s happening, and consider how best to support their young person.
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What this support offers​
Parental Strategy Consultations help parents to:
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understand what may be influencing their young person’s behaviour
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reflect on patterns in the parent–young person relationship
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explore practical ways of responding that support connection and reduce conflict​
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This work is not about blame or fixing, but about strengthening the relational environment around the young person.
Why Parental Support Matters​
When a young person is struggling, the relationship around them matters as much as the work done in therapy. Supporting parents can ease pressure, strengthen connection, and help families respond in more attuned ways — even when a young person isn’t ready for therapy themselves.
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Change often begins in the relationship, not just in the therapy room.
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Fees
Sessions are €80
Sessions are usually 60mins
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Parental Support & Strategy - Frequently Asked Questions ​
Do I need my young person to come for this to be helpful?
No. Many parents reach out at a point when their young person is not ready, willing, or able to engage — and that does not mean you’re stuck. These sessions are designed to support you in understanding what’s happening, finding steadier ways to respond, and staying connected in the relationship. When a parent feels more grounded and clearer, it often creates the conditions for change within the family, even if the young person isn’t in the room yet.
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Is this therapy, or is it more practical?
It’s a bit of both. These sessions are a space to reflect on what’s happening emotionally and relationally, and also to think through what might help in very real, day-to-day ways. It’s about helping you make sense of what you’re living with and finding ways forward that feel more supportive and more doable. A big part of the work is supporting the middle ground between you and your young person — the space where misunderstandings, tension, and push-pull dynamics often build up. When that space feels steadier and less charged, it becomes easier for both of you to stay connected and move through challenges together.
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What if my partner sees things differently?
This is very common. Often one parent feels more worried or more affected, while the other isn’t sure anything needs to change. You don’t need everyone to agree in order to get support. These sessions are for you — to help you think, steady yourself, and understand what’s going on. Sometimes that clarity on your side can soften things within the wider family system over time.
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Will I be blamed for what’s going on?
No. Parenting a teenager or young adult can be deeply challenging, especially when things feel tense, confusing, or out of control. These sessions are not about fault or criticism. They are about understanding what’s happening in the relationship and how you can support your young person in a way that feels more grounded and less overwhelming — for both of you.
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How can working on me help my young person?
Because relationships are systems. When one part of the system shifts, it affects the whole. When a parent feels more regulated, clearer, and more supported, it changes the emotional atmosphere around a young person. Research on reflective parenting consistently shows that when parents have space to think, reflect, and stay emotionally present, young people feel safer, more understood, and more able to engage. They often feel the difference in how conversations go, in how tension eases, and in how connection becomes more possible. Supporting you is one of the most powerful ways of supporting them.
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Parent Testimonial
"I went into the parental strategy meeting unsure of what to expect, but it turned out to be a positive experience. I felt comfortable and was given the opportunity to lead the conversation under no pressure to speak of anything I didn’t want to.
Margaret's gentle, empathetic approach made the space feel safe and supportive. While the discussion was emotional for me at times, I left the meeting feeling somewhat reassured and optimistic and felt I was listened to"
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Parent
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