Therapy and support for children in care and adoptive families, and their networks
‘Children in care’ have been identified nationally as a group of infants, children and adolescents whose mental health needs are much greater than those of the general population as a result of their early life experiences. Most children who are fostered or adopted have experienced early trauma and disrupted attachments. Their experiences can make it difficult for them to form trusting relationships, develop a robust self-esteem, healthy coping strategies, the ability to regulate emotions, and make choices that are in their longer-term interest.
At Child Psychology Sussex, we offer expert therapy for children who are in care or have been adopted, tailored to support their healing and long-term emotional wellbeing. Dr Esmoreit Sleyster has worked extensively with this vulnerable client group in the specialist CAMHS Tier 4 service, in the private sector with the National Fostering Group and Outcomes First Group, as well as in her private practice.
Our specialised assessment and therapy services for children and teenagers support them through transitions and emotional challenges. Our approach aims to build resilience, improve placement/adoption stability and promote a healthy development.
Available to adoptive carers, local authorities, fostering agencies and residential care settings, these services include:
· Psychological assessment and personalised intervention plans
· Counselling and therapy for children, adolescents, and young adults, to help build their identity, trust and secure attachments, and manage strong emotions and behaviour difficulties (including specialist therapies like EMDR)
· Help during care proceedings or transitions to new placements
Specialist support for those who care for children through fostering, special guardianship, adoption, or in residential care
We believe therapeutic work is key for children who have experienced early relational trauma, attachment disruption and loss, and we are committed to providing tailored support for foster and adoptive families. These families often face complex relational, behavioural, and identity-based challenges stemming from their child’s early trauma, loss, and attachment disruptions.
Family therapy or guidance enables foster and adoptive parents, special guardians, and residential care staff to understand the child’s behaviour through a trauma lens. This can help them ‘attune’ and co-regulate the child’s emotions and resulting behaviours, enabling healing and a better attachment to form.
We support foster and adoptive families with:
· Psycho-education for parents and carers, focusing on understanding the impact of developmental trauma and attachment disruption, and fostering attunement and attachment through therapeutic parenting approaches
· The use of therapeutic parenting strategies
· Managing their own feelings and responses in response to the child’s emotional and behavioural difficulties, including emotional/compassion fatigue
· Family therapy to address relationship dynamics, communication, emotional regulation, boundaries, and non-violent resistance
· Attending professionals/networking meetings to help inform and align the support on offer
Our team are here to assist your journey, and together we can help create a secure, nurturing environment for your child or teenager.
Working in partnership with other agencies
Our therapeutic support for children and teens in Sussex and Brighton goes beyond offering individual sessions, parent guidance and family therapy. We work in partnership with the Health and Education Authorities, the Local Authority, Independent Reviewing Officers, CAFCASS, Independent Foster Care Organisations and Residential Care Homes, and other statutory and non-statutory organisations, to deliver effective assessment and support.
We work closely with professionals involved in the child’s care, offering support through consultation, training and collaboration across agencies.
Professional support includes:
· Training for foster carers and special guardians, supervising social workers, and residential children’s homes care teams
· Psychological consultations to social workers and education staff
· Reports and recommendations aligned with Children’s Homes (England) Regulations (2015), Fostering Services (England) Regulations 2011, the Care Standards Act (2000)
· Joint working with schools, CAMHS, and safeguarding teams
Our integrated services across care systems helps reduce placement disruption, improve engagement, and support better long-term outcomes for children.
Ready to book a consultation or learn more about how we can support your child or teen’s mental health? Get in touch today