Parenting with Theraplay® – Parent/Child Connection Group Programme for Parents and Carers

Beacon Family Services CIC support a wide range of struggling families, including:

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Families who are worried about their child's anxiety, emotional wellbeing or mental health

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Parents / carers struggling with their child's behaviours or Childhood Challenging Violent and Aggressive Behaviours (CCVAB)

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Families experiencing a life change, such as illness, divorce or a bereavement

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Fostering, adoptive or blended families looking for support to develop new relationships

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Families looking for support with neurodivergence, such as Autism or ADHD, or disabilities

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Parents / carers who would like to deepen their relationships and be a more connected parent

If you are struggling with family life, please browse our support services on our Families hub.

Alternatively, you can fill out our contact form and we will get back to you to discuss your family's needs.

Click here to find out more about who we are and what we do.

At Beacon Family Service, we understand that family life isn’t always straightforward. Whether you’re an adoptive parent, foster carer, Special Guardian or birth parent, you might sometimes feel stuck or unsure of how best to support your child, especially if they’ve had a tricky start in life.

That’s why we offer Parenting with Theraplay®, a small group programme designed to help you understand your child more deeply, build trust, and strengthen your relationship through playful, nurturing connection.

In-person • 4 Sessions total • Location: Sutton Coldfield

The gentle, practical and enjoyable approach of the Parenting with Theraplay® Group Programme offers new ways to connect with your child, build and strengthen relationships, and bring more joy into your relationship even in the tough moments.

Created for <a href="https://www.theraplay.org.uk/parenting-programs" target="_blank">Theraplay UK</a>, by experienced practitioners Dr Viv Norris and Philippa Kelly, this group-based approach gives you space to reflect, learn, and try things out at home between sessions. You’ll leave with real tools you can use day to day and feel more confident in your parenting.

Led by a qualified and accredited Theraplay® Practitioner, this in-person group brings together parents and carers to explore the Theraplay® approach in a safe, supportive environment.

Parenting with Theraplay® is the only parent group programme accredited by Theraplay® UK to support parents and caregivers in building stronger, more secure relationships with their children and it often leads to lasting peer support among group members.

This approach is cost effective. It can be funded through the Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) if you’re eligible, and we’re happy to support you with that process.

In-person • 4 Sessions total • Location: Sutton Coldfield

We run this in-person course over 4 half-days, during school term time and hours, which gives time to reflect and use our support between sessions.

The group runs for 6–12 people. All four sessions must be attended to get the most out of the experience.

📅 Dates: See dates

📍 Location: Our base in Sutton Coldfield

☕ Refreshments: Tea, coffee and great snacks provided (you can bring your own lunch or pop out to a local café too)

For groups of foster carers we can also run this course over 3 shorter days - which is great for learning the basics of Theraplay® and trying out strategies.

Programme delivery

Over four sessions, you’ll learn about the four core Theraplay® dimensions:

Structure
Engagement
Nurture
Challenge

You'll learn about how these core Theraplay® dimensions help to strengthen your child’s sense of safety and connection.

Together with other parents and carers, you’ll:

Explore how your child’s early experiences may affect the way they relate to you and others and how they behave.
Discover your own parenting patterns, and uncover patterns and experiment with new approaches that feel right for you and your child.
Try activities between sessions, and share your experience with a therapist.
Build stronger bonds with your child through play and positive interactions.

With recent reductions to ASGSF budgets, we know that many services are needing to think differently about how they support families. Parenting with Theraplay® offers a cost-effective alternative to 1:1 interventions, providing high-quality support to parents and carers in a group setting.

This intervention can be used to:

Prepare families for further Theraplay® work with their child.
Offer targeted support to a parent or carer who hasn't yet been directly involved in intervention.
Extend the reach of support within the constraints of reduced funding.

Because the group format promotes shared learning and natural peer support, it often leads to sustainable change without the need for longer-term, more costly input.

This programme is eligible for Adoption and Special Guardianship Support Fund (ASGSF) funding, and we are happy to support families or professionals with the application process.

Information:

Blogs:

Find out more about our therapeutic support for adoptive families:

Blog

Adoptive Families

Families Hub

“"I just felt it was going to be ok as soon as I saw you" ”

Adoptive Parent

Parenting with Theraplay® in action

5th May 2025

A Parent’s Guide to Supporting Your Child’s Anxiety and Nurturing Connection

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Further therapeutic support for adoptive families

We have a range of resources and funded therapeutic groups available to adoptive, foster and kinship families, even if you have no access to further funding and support. We also provide training for professionals. Our therapeutic services are designed to nurture connection, understanding, and resilience in your child. Click a button below to find out more.

Connect for Kids

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