Course Requirements
This course is open to any professional working with parents in a mental health, primary care, educational or social care setting. It is applicable to those working within teams and working independently.
Training for Professionals
Based on Dr Redfern’s acclaimed books Reflective Parenting and How Do You Hug a Cactus?, I offer a training to front line professionals in my model of mentalization-based parenting. This practical, clinical training trains professionals in how to use Reflective Parenting in their practice; working both individually and in groups of parents. The model of Reflective Parenting promotes positive outcomes for children’s emotional and behavioural wellbeing, where there are difficulties in the parent-child relationship.
This training will delve into applying mentalization, attachment theory, and reflective functioning for enhanced emotional and behavioural wellbeing in children. The course has been developed to address behavioural difficulties and anxiety in children and young people, and emphasises parental self-mentalizing and collaboration in group settings.
You will also be coached in using a range of mentalizing tools unique to the Reflective Parenting model, which helps parents to connect with their children in positive and meaningful ways.
Aims of the Training
To learn about the key features of Reflective Parenting, its theoretical link to reflective functioning, attachment and theory of mind, and its application to working with parents with young children.
To promote practitioner abilities in employing a mentalizing stance in work with parents.
To develop practitioner skills in providing practical tools to parents to help explain and practice Reflective Parenting including the Parent APP and Parent Map.
To describe and part-train professionals in the running of a Reflective Parenting Group.
CPD and Certification
This Reflective Parenting Training contributes to Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for professionals working with parents, children and families across mental health, education, social care and healthcare settings. The course provides 12 hours of structured, evidence-informed training, supporting practitioners to develop skills in reflective parenting and mentalization-based approaches.
Participants who complete the training will receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Dr. Sheila Redfern and the Child Wellbeing Clinic, confirming their attendance and professional training in the Reflective Parenting model. The certificate can be used as evidence of CPD for professional development and portfolio requirements.
Course Follow Up
At the end of the training, participants will be offered the opportunity of investing in further supervision with Dr Redfern to support their Reflective Parenting Practice.
After the Training
You will receive a copy of my Reflective Parenting manual (for younger children or for teenagers) or workbook. These materials will be your guide to running Reflective Parenting sessions or groups for parents.
Following the training you will have developed a range of skills in establishing an alliance and working collaboratively with parents and will have developed skills in the use of the Reflective Parenting tools; the Emotional Thermometer, Professional APP, Parenting App, Two Hands and Parent Map.
In order to establish model fidelity and to support you in your work, I offer follow up consultation/supervision to help you develop adherence to the Reflective Parenting model.
About Dr Sheila Redfern
Dr Sheila Redfern is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist at The Child Wellbeing Clinic. She has worked as a Consultant Clinical Psychologist in NHS and Third Sector teams for over 30 years. She headed up teams in Tier 3 CAMHS, establishing a service for adolescents who self-harm, a service for Under 5s and led a team specialising in family trauma at Anna Freud for the past 11 years before leaving to pursue her own work. She is internationally recognised as an expert in mentalization based interventions for parents and foster carers and has published three books for parents on her own model of MBT parenting; Reflective Parenting.
Sheila is a recognised expert in the field of child and adolescent psychology and has kept her focus on working directly with families throughout her career, in addition to her work training professionals nationally and internationally. She is highly skilled in carrying out complex assessments of children and young people from a wide range of backgrounds and developmental profiles. She has innovated interventions for foster carers which have contributed most recently to an evidence-base for carers (the Reflective Fostering Programme). Sheila also holds a particular interest in working with families where members are neuro-divergent and where parents are seeking to understand their child better and have a closer connection.
Sheila holds a PhD from Kings College, London, in addition to her clinical qualifications, and is passionate about evidence-based interventions. She believes that no child or family is beyond help and, with the right fit of both therapist and type of intervention, every child and young person is capable of reaching their full potential.
You can see Sheila’s publications here and more about her work and media engagements here
Questions and Queries:
If you would like more information about the course please email training@cwclinic.com