Parent Support: What We Do Differently at The Social Space
Working with neurodivergent children, teens, and young adults is one of the greatest privileges of my career. Every day, I meet families who are doing their absolute best at navigating school demands, emotional ups and downs, therapy appointments, sensory challenges, and the deep desire to help their child feel confident, capable, and understood.
And time and time again, I am reminded of something essential:
Supporting parents is just as important as supporting children.
This belief sits at the heart of everything we do at The Social Space Psychology Clinic.
Our work isn’t just about building skills in young people- it’s about empowering the entire family system. When parents feel informed, confident, and supported, children thrive.
Below, I want to share how we walk alongside parents in ways that are thoughtful, neurodiversity-affirming, and truly different.
1. We Don’t Expect Parents to “Figure It Out Alone” We Coach You Every Step of the Way
Parenting a neurodivergent child can be equal parts beautiful and exhausting. Despite how
much you adore your child, the mental load can be tremendous:
• “Am I doing the right thing?”
• “How do I support them when they’re overwhelmed?”
• “What if I make it worse?”
These are questions I hear every day and no parent should be left navigating them alone.
At The Social Space, parent coaching is not an optional add-on. It’s an essential part of our programs. Whether you’re participating in the Secret Agent Society Program, Cool Kids Anxiety Program or the PEERS® Social Skills Programs parents receive dedicated guidance on how to understand their child’s behaviours, how to reinforce skills at home, and how to respond in moments of escalation.
Our coaching goes far beyond “tips.”It’s personalised, practical, and grounded in evidence-based therapy CBT, ACT, self-regulation frameworks, and strengths-based practice.
Parents walk away with clarity and confidence, not overwhelm.
2. We Prioritise Regular Check-Ins Because Consistency Creates Change
Real growth doesn’t happen in the 60–90 minutes we spend in a session.
It happens in the everyday moments – the bedtime fears, the morning chaos, the homework battles, the friendship drama, the sensory shutdowns.
This is why we prioritise:
✔ Weekly check-ins,
✔ Short parent debriefs after group programs,
✔ Scheduled support sessions during tricky times, and
✔ Ongoing communication to keep everyone aligned.
When parents feel connected and supported, therapy becomes a partnership not a service you attend and leave behind. We stay with you through the journey, celebrating the wins and helping you navigate the challenges.
3. We Give You the Tools You Need — Not Just Information
Information without practical tools can feel overwhelming. That’s why we provide resources that make a real difference at home, school, and in the community.
Depending on your program, you may receive:
✔ Visual guides and social stories
✔ Step-by-step skill practice sheets
✔ Sensory support recommendations
✔ Explanation sheets to help siblings, family, and teachers understand your child
✔ Scripts for navigating tricky conversations
✔ Personalised strategies for emotional regulation and behaviour support
Parents often tell us, “This is the first time I’ve actually understood what to do, not just what the problem is.” That’s exactly the goal.
4. We Understand Parent Stress – And We Treat It with Compassion
Neurodivergent children do not exist in isolation. Their emotional landscape is deeply interconnected with their parents’.
When a child struggles, parents often experience:
• Guilt
• Overwhelm
• Burnout
• Self-doubt
• Decision fatigue
• Advocacy exhaustion
You might feel like you must be strong, organised, patient, calm, positive all the time.
But here’s the truth:
Parents deserve the same level of care and compassion we give to children.
This is why we check in on you. We want to know how you are coping, what you need, and where you feel stuck. We help you navigate school meetings, understand reports, support big emotions, and build routines that ease pressure rather than add to it.
Supporting parents is not a side note in our work it’s a cornerstone.
5. We Create Community Because Parenting Shouldn’t Feel Lonely
One of the quietest pains parents share is the feeling of being alone- the sense that other families don’t understand meltdowns, masking, sensory overload, rejection sensitivity, school refusal, or the worry that wakes you at 2 a.m.
Our groups are intentionally designed to bring families together.
Parents meet other parents.
Children meet like-minded peers.
Everyone feels less isolated.
Connection reduces shame.
Shame reduces stress.
And reduced stress helps the whole family thrive.
6. We Celebrate Neurodiversity, Strengths, and Every Small Step
At The Social Space, we don’t approach neurodiversity as something to “fix.”
We see it as something to honour.
Our work with parents includes helping you shift from fear to understanding, from uncertainty to confidence, and from “what’s wrong?” to “look at their strengths.”
Every child has a spark — curiosity, creativity, honesty, humour, passion, logic, imagination and when parents learn how to nurture that spark, everything changes.
Why Supporting Parents Matters So Much
Because when parents feel safe, understood, and supported, they become the most powerful therapeutic resource a child could ever have.
Because children grow when parents feel capable.
Because families flourish when parents feel empowered.
Because your wellbeing is not a luxury – it’s essential.
When we support parents, we’re not just helping one person.
We’re strengthening an entire ecosystem – one that shapes a child’s ability to thrive for years to come.
A Final Message to Every Parent
If you are reading this and you feel overwhelmed, uncertain, exhausted, or simply curious – you’re not alone. You are doing better than you think, and your willingness to learn, show up, and keep going is already changing your child’s life.
At The Social Space, we see you.
We value you.
And we are here to walk beside you, every step of the way