Hannah Fernandes

My availability is flexible, so the best way to contact me is by email, which I respond to promptly. We can then work out the best options for you and arrange an introductory meeting and see if I am the right fit for you. 

With 11-17yr olds, the same process can happen but I would aim to arrange a meeting with both the young person and the parent/carer to ensure we all know how it works.

Isn't it strange how everyone seems to have parenting advice? 

Well-meaning people, offering suggestions shaped by lives that don't look like yours, they don't carry the same things as you carry.

As they say on planes, 'put on your own oxygen mask before helping others'. The same can apply here. The more we can find acceptance, patience and compassion within ourselves, the more we can offer those things to our children.

I am an integrative counsellor with a deep passion for supporting parents and carers of neurodivergent and SEN children and young people as well as working with young people themselves.

I draw on a range of different theories and ways of working to best suit you, this could be through talking or it could be through more creative ways of communicating.

My background is in teaching and specialist support, as well as being a parent of two neurodivergent children myself. This means I get it, and understand that not everyone's needs fit within a mainstream world, but understanding our individual needs is a good starting point.

I don't offer advice. Instead I offer a space. A confidential space, for you to breath and explore your thoughts, feelings, responses and reactions. Then to gently reflect on how your experiences shape how you feel and whether they are still working for you.

My therapy room is in Stratford Upon Avon and there is lots of parking close by. It also has wheelchair access.

We would start by arranging an initial introductory meeting, this would be about 20 minutes with the aim of helping us both decide if we are a good fit for working together. This can be on the phone or in person. After this session, if you do want to start working together we would arrange a first session where we would do a short assessment form to focus in on areas you would like to work on.

With 11-17yr olds, this would be the same, but the initial session would ideally be with both the client and the parent/carer. This is to ensure that we are working collaboratively, transparently and everyone is clear on expectations and confidentiality.