Family life can be a challenge
Do you worry about what is happening for your child?
Do you feel it is impossible to understand your child sometimes?
Do you worry about what kind of person your child will become?
Are you exasperated with family life and feel stuck not knowing how to help your child?
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Being a mum or dad can be hard work and when your child or young person doesn't seem to be growing up or their behaviour is difficult to understand it can become immensely stressful. Family life has its challenges and life events can have an impact on children's behaviour, just as children's behaviour can impact family harmony. Thinking Families offers a place to think about these difficulties.
We at Thinking Families believe that it helps to talk to someone about these issues, especially if a child is struggling with a mental health issue such as depression or anxiety. We believe that a child's mental wellbeing is essential for healthy growth and just as important as physical health. Indeed, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) recommends talking therapies for emotional difficulties as well as Video Interaction Guidance (VIG) for attachment-related difficulties.
What can we do to help?
A Thinking Space
We offer a place to think things through
ABOUT
Thinking Families is a collaboration between two Psychotherapists, Amanda Fletcher and Ian Hickey who have many years experience working with children, young people and their families. Both of us have worked in special education in Sussex, supporting pupils, young people and their families to achieve the best possible outcomes. Thinking Families offer consultation and assessment to families with concerns for the wellbeing of their family members with ongoing work and support.
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Amanda completed her training as a Child, Adolescent and Family Psychotherapist at the Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust in 2016 and specialises in working with families whose children are on the autism spectrum. Amanda has worked in special education for many years as well as in private practice. Her interests are in how attachment theory and psychodynamic approaches can help children and their families understand the meaning beneath their behaviour.
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Ian qualified as a teacher in 1994 and Educational Psychotherapist in 2005. He has been a deputy head in two special schools developing training and support for pupils, families and staff, including holistic behaviour understanding and support, attachment theory in the classroom, good autism practice in mainstream and special school classrooms, psychodynamic work discussion in schools and consultations to individual families. Since 2016 Ian has been an independent practitioner working with schools, families and therapists across Sussex promoting integrated working between education, care, physical and mental health.
Who we are
Amanda Fletcher
Ian Hickey
Get In Touch
Thinking Families
Lewes House, 32 High Street, Lewes, Sussex, BN7 1AB
Thinking Families
