PARENT & CARER SUPPORT
Side by Side Therapy offers individualised, one-on-one support for parents and carers. We approach support sessions with empathy and curiosity, aiming to provide support that is practical and specific. These sessions can be regular or as needed.
Side by Side also offers a private, safe and welcoming space for carer and parent support group sessions. These can be facilitated with topics for discussion, casual for coffee and connection, or a mixture of both. We welcome child-free or child in attendance, or we can arrange on-site child-minding during support sessions on request. Sessions are participant-led so parents can bring questions or just come and connect with other parents. It is not necessary to be a client of Side by Side to attend.
We currently have several free parent/carer groups running, including those for support and connection, facilitated discussions and information sessions, and those just for parents/carers to catch up over a cuppa.
Side by Side Therapy also offers workshops for parents or carers on request.
Parent sessions can be formal sessions where Anita provides psychoeducation surrounding trauma-informed and responsive parenting, child development, creating an emotionally supportive environment, developing positive parenting strategies, and presentation of mental health disorders and/or disability in children.
These sessions are not therapy, and are for parenting-related challenges, including support with children who:
- struggle with sleep, whether it is getting to sleep, staying asleep or sleeping alone.
- struggle with food-related issues.
- have trouble with meltdowns and/or tantrums.
- struggle with emotional regulation and/or sensory issues.
- are questioning or exploring his/her/their identity.
- have behaviours of concerns.
- have challenges relating to mental health and/or disability.
Anita supports parents and carers in learning strategies to support developing play, social overtures like initiating joint attention or seeking help, empowering, identifying and using strengths and/or working through struggles of all kinds. Her work with parents is based on the belief that everyone is doing the best they can with what they have, and once we know more or better, we can all grow together.
Sessions can also be more informal, where parents can bring questions, or just come and connect with other parents to chat and share stories.
Side by Side also offers fee-free parent groups available on request and add more group based on interest and on request. We have had some great parent play sessions as well!
We’re different…
As a therapy practice, Side by Side Therapy is unique.
We understand that attending therapy is hard for some people, and we will work hard to make you feel safe. Here are some of the things you can expect from working with the Side by Side team:
We try to have as much fun as we can at work, and we encourage our clients to be open to enjoying therapy and celebrate the wins along the way.
We practice integrative therapy, which is needs-based, so looks and feels different for everyone, and respects clients’ voices, pace, wants and needs.
We focus on strengths, building our clients’ resilience, and collaboratively finding ways to meet unmet needs and teach lagging skills.
We are able to work with multiple funding options, plan and self managed NDIS, Medicare, Open Arms Veteran Affairs, Child Protection, and some health funds.
