Supporting Parent Carers in Therapy: Counselling Tutor Podcast Appearance

EventsNewsParent Carer Wellbeing
Written By Ellie Finch

Image source: Counselling Tutor

I recently had the pleasure of joining my wonderful colleague Dr. Jo Griffin on the Counselling Tutor Podcast to talk about a topic close to both of our hearts: how therapists can better support parents of children with disabilities, complex medical conditions, and special educational needs (SEND).

In this episode, we speak with Rory Lees-Oakes in the Practice Matters segment (starting at 26:57 mins) about our new CPD lecture and the lived realities of parent-carers – from daily battles with systems to the emotional weight of constant advocacy.

Here’s a flavour of what we discuss:

  • How cumulative trauma can show up in parent-carers – through anger, shutdown, grief, or burnout.

  • Why therapists need to understand the systems these families are navigating – education, health, and social care.

  • The power of recognising “inch-stones” – small wins that mean everything in families living with uncertainty.

  • The importance of flexibility and being able to hold space for both grief and joy without slipping into toxic positivity.

If you work with parent carers, this conversation is for you. It’s about deepening our understanding, making therapy more accessible, and honouring the complexity of these parenting journeys.

Listen here: Counselling Tutor Podcast – Episode 341
(Our segment begins at 26:57)

Warm thanks to Counselling Tutor for having us on and shining a light on this important topic.

Ellie Finch

Ellie Finch, MA MBACP (Accred), is a clinical supervisor, counsellor, and social worker specialising in support for neurodivergent clients and families of children with additional needs or complex conditions.

Her work is rooted in a neurodiversity-affirming approach, which values neurodivergence as a natural variation in human experience and focuses on building supportive, respectful environments rather than 'fixing' difference.

Ellie is known for her innovative use of creative digital tools and videogames like Minecraft in therapy to create accessible, engaging support. She is founder of PlayMode Academy, a non-profit social venture that trains professionals in the therapeutic use of creative digital tools.

PlayMode Academy is part of Ellie Finch Counselling, Consultancy and Training Ltd, a non-profit company limited by guarantee (a structure often used by social ventures in the UK).

Ellie is also part of the University of Cambridge research team behind Bridging the ChASM: Creating Accessible Services using Minecraft - a project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) that explores the therapeutic potential of videogames and how they can be used to create more inclusive mental health support.

NOT AN OFFICIAL MINECRAFT SERVICE. NOT APPROVED BY OR ASSOCIATED WITH MOJANG OR MICROSOFT

https://www.playmodeacademy.org
Previous

Primrose Hospice: Impact Case Study
Next

Creative Changemaking: Highlights from Creative Cambridge Conference 2025