Helen Legerton

I am available for evening work for Therapeutic Parenting 

I am a BACP Accredited Play Therapist working within schools and in private practice based in West Cornwall. 

Family life can be full of emotional ups and downs. You want the best for your child, to be able to support them in anyway you can. Sometimes It can be emotionally hard to understand why your child is behaving in a certain way, this may be putting a strain on other parts of their life, and yours. If you would like support for your child regarding behaviour or emotions (age 3-16) then please feel free to get in touch. Below are the different ways I work. Well done for taking the first step in reaching out.  

Play Therapy is a developmentally sensitive form of Psychotherapy. The play equipment gives the child a safe psychological distance in which they can explore and express difficult emotions. The Play Therapy sessions are child-led, which empowers the child to explore emotions that are present for them, some of which may be outside of their awareness. Through understanding the child’s world through their eyes, enables me to therapeutically support the child in gaining greater understanding and self-awareness. This enables the child to work through difficult emotions present which in turn may lessen behaviours.  

Therapeutic Parenting enables you to understand your child’s behaviour from a therapeutic lens using a psychoeducational approach. Discussing how and why your child is behaving in a certain way using emotional development theories and neuroscience. We will work together on useful strategies drawn from your own experiences. Three sessions are recommended for Therapeutic Parenting taking place face to face or online.

Filial Therapy  Both Therapist and parent work together in play sessions, to help the parent think about their child’s behaviours in a different way. Filial Therapy is suitable for one or two parent families with children aged between 3 and 16. Parents are taught 4 key therapeutic skills. This new learning gives greater insight to the parent in understanding reasons for behaviours and emotions presented by the child. New deeper insight brings about emotional change for the child and parent together with giving the foundations for a secure attachment. Filial Therapy is a powerful approach, with Skills being taught that can be used to support the child emotionally in the future.

Get in touch for an initial chat to discuss your needs.   During our initial conversation it is important for us both to feel if we could work together and that the services offered are appropriate for your needs.  If we are both in agreement then an assessment meeting is arranged. This usually lasts around an hour, with parent and child present. 

Once the assessment is completed, recommendations will be made tailored to your child's needs.