Giving Back - Free Workshops for Parents/Carers of SEN children and adults

Supporting a child or adult with additional needs can of course be rewarding, but it can also be emotionally and mentally exhausting.

Parents and carers of those with Special Educational Needs (SEN) often carry a level of responsibility, worry, and constant alertness that others may never fully see or experience. I count myself in that group, having an adult daughter with a learning disability. We feel we have to stay strong, keep going, and put ourselves last, sometimes for many years at a time and with the weight of extra responsibility extending well into our loved ones' adulthood - and throughout their lives for many of us.

This is why I’m offering free Solution Focused Hypnotherapy workshops specifically for parents and carers of SEN children and adults.

Caring for someone with additional needs often means:

• Living in a constant state of hyper-vigilance or 'fight or flight'

• Carrying ongoing stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue

• Having little time or space to ever properly switch off

• Prioritising caring over other relationships (spouse/partner, other children, family and friends)

• Feeling guilt for needing rest or support yourself

Over time, this can take a real toll on mental and emotional wellbeing.

These workshops are designed to offer a pause. A safe, supportive space for carers to rest their nervous system, calm the mind, and gently reconnect with themselves, knowing they're among other people who 'get it'. No explanations needed.

What the workshops offer

Each workshop uses Solution Focused Hypnotherapy, a gentle, evidence-based approach that helps the mind move out of stress and into calmer, clearer thinking.

Sessions feel:

• Calming and restorative, helping to reduce stress and overwhelm

• Educational but reassuring, offering simple explanations of how the brain responds to pressure

• Practical and gentle, with tools that can be used in everyday life

• Supportive and non-judgemental, with no pressure to share or talk

There is no need to analyse the past or explain your situation. Everything is optional, and participants remain fully aware and in control throughout.

A space just for you

These workshops are not about “fixing” anything. They are about:

• Giving your mind and body a chance to reset

• Reducing mental and emotional overload

• Helping you feel calmer, steadier, and more supported

• Reminding you that you matter too

Many carers are so focused on supporting others that they forget how much they are carrying. This is a space where you don’t have to hold everything together.

Why I’m offering these workshops for free

I believe that mental wellbeing support should be accessible, especially for those who give so much of themselves to others.

Parents and carers of SEN children and adults often face additional barriers to accessing support, whether that’s time, cost, or simply putting themselves last.  It's often overlooked that having a caring responsibility also means pressure on the finances due to juggling everything allowing very little work or, more often than not, one parent being unable to work at all.

Offering these workshops is my way of giving back and supporting the people who support others every single day.

Who the workshops are for

These workshops are suitable for:

• Parents of children with SEN

• Parent/Carers of teenagers or adults with additional needs

• Anyone in a caring role who feels stressed, overwhelmed, or emotionally drained

No previous experience of hypnotherapy is needed.

A gentle reminder

Looking after yourself is not selfish. It's necessary. When your nervous system is calmer and your mind feels supported, you are better able to cope with challenges, and to continue caring in a way that feels more sustainable.

If you are a parent or carer of someone with SEN, you are very welcome to join one of these free workshops.

Where are these workshops?

Currently, I offer these in person workshops across BCP and in Ferndown, Dorset.

Details of upcoming dates and how to book will be shared on my social media pages (follow me on Facebook or Instagram at helens.hypnotherapy and on local SEN parent facebook groups.