Suzanne Alderson

When your child has a mental health issue, it changes everything - how we live, how we love and how we see the past, present and future. From the dynamics of communication and possibility to expectations and beliefs to our own ability to think straight, we can become consumed by trying to help our child to wellness.

In our haste to help and with a focus on fixing - because that's what us parents do, isn't it? - we can find our homes become a battlefield and our heads are quickly filled with all the what ifs, conflicting information and overpowering feelings like guilt, shame and fear. Our behaviours, while done to try and help, can often lead to a greater sense of disconnection and we can wonder if we'll ever recognise our child - or our family -again.

'Partnering not Parenting' is an approach for parents of young people with mental health issues that helps reframe the challenges and offers pragmatic, compassionate and practical tools to help us understand how to reconnect, communicate and build trust at a deeply challenging time.

The 3 stage approach:
Step Down from our Emotions, Experience, Authority and Judgement
Stand Beside our child as we navigate the new normal together to build emotional safety, and
Travel Together to different and often unexpected places and understanding

The course helps deal with the grief, shame and distress we experience having a child with depression, anxiety or other mental health condition while helping them to a place where they feel emotionally safe, seen and heard by us.

But this is most certainly not about perfect parenting! That doesn't exist. This is about using the challenge you face as an opportunity to reflect, to set down some old behaviours and beliefs, and to move forward with greater clarity, connection and hope, and to transform your relationship with yourself, your child and your family.

Suzanne Alderson devised the approach to support her daughter, Issy, to resilient recovery from chronic depression, anxiety, self harm and suicide attempts. It has been used by hundreds of parents to change their relationships with their child.

And this isn't about changing your child ; it's not a therapy or quick fix. It's a powerful, compassionate approach to understanding more about what your whole family is going through as well as the challenges and opportunities this adversity brings. It gives you the community and the tools to begin to calm, connect and converse with your child.

The next course begins on October 23rd and runs for 8 weeks. You access the audio and video resources week by week online and via the Thinkific app on your phone or tablet, and complete them in your own time, with a workbook to help you reflect on your thoughts and document the changes - and challenges - as they happen.

Suzanne also runs regular Live Q&A sessions in the course as well as being present to answer questions and support you in the closed Facebook group that is a key element of this course. The community of other parents who get what you're going through and are there to help support you will give you hope, understanding and strength.

The course cost is £150 for 12 months' access and we have 3 x £50 or 6 x £25 payment plans available too. Having 12 months' access means you can go through the coached course up to 5 times in 2023/24, giving you space if you're concerned about your capacity or just want to continue to reflect, learn and grow. Any time the resources are updated in the 12 months, you'll get free access to them as well.

If you would like to apply for a funded scholarship place, please complete the application form here: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PNP_Scholarship_1023