Adoption Support Fund (ASF) assessments

Dr Housley has extensive experience of providing assessments through the ASF both independently and in the NHS. An ASF assessment usually comprises:

6 hours face to face assessment with the child and their caregivers. This includes the use of formalised assessment tools, clinical interviews and play-based assessments.
2 hours professional liaison. This would normally involve speaking with the child's educational provider and social worker as well as any other professionals involved in the child's care.
2 hours reviewing reports. This would usually include any previous assessment reports as well as the child's chronology and permanence report and any other social care reports deemed appropriate to inform the assessment.
4-6 hours report writing. You will receive a thorough assessment report detailing the assessment tools used, outcomes, a psychological formulation and therapeutic recommendations.

The above may vary depending on the child/ young person's individual situation and needs so please contact us for a detailed quote.

Please contact us on: email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 07754 439891 to enquire about any of our services.

Couples Therapy

All romantic relationships can go through challenging periods from time to time. Perhaps you are finding it difficult to resolve conflicts, resentment may be building, or you might be struggling to communicate your thoughts and feelings. You may be in a place where you are deciding whether or not you would like the relationship to continue or maybe you have made the decision to separate and need some support in navigating this and coming to terms with the huge changes in your life. Couples therapy can be helpful whether you are married, living together or living apart. We work with couples of all sexual and gender orientations and backgrounds.

Relationship therapy aims to provide a supportive, non-judgmental environment to enable you to work through the difficulties you are experiencing. It can be helpful for a number of issues including:

Conflict resolution
Communication
Issues relating to sexuality
Deciding whether to separate or remain together
Adjusting to co-parenting following separation

Please contact us on: email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 07853 246044 to enquire about any of our services.

Family Support & Therapy

When your child is struggling with their mental health or emotional wellbeing, it is sometimes useful to engage in therapeutic support as a family. Psychological therapeutic support for primary school aged children will always include you as a parent as an integral part of the therapeutic process. Involving you closely in your child's therapy journey enables you as a parent to deeply understand the difficulties your child is having and equip you with the knowledge and skills to support your child between sessions. With older children and teens, Dr Ash will speak with you at the end of each session to provide information on ways you can support the therapeutic work your child is completing and to give you the opportunity to ask any questions or share any concerns.

Family support is also helpful when your child has experienced previous relational trauma or when the parent-child relationship is strained, or presenting challenges. Dr Ash uses attachment and trauma informed models of family therapy, including Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), an approach developed by Dr Dan Hughes (Clinical Psychologist). DDP involves working with you as parents and then with your child and you as parent(s) together. The aim is to support and develop your attachment relationship and to make sense of and process any past trauma, developing an increasing sense of safeness within the parent-child relationship.

Online Services

At Percuro Psychology we understand that it may not always be practical to attend face to face sessions. You may live some distance from the practice clinic or may struggle to fit things in with other commitments.

We are able to offer remote sessions via the online platform Zoom.

Please contact us should you wish to explore this option.

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR)

What is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing. It is best known for treating difficulties resulting from traumatic experiences, but can help a wide range of mental health difficulties including anxiety, phobias and depression.

EMDR helps the brain to reprocess traumatic memories, reducing the impact of them on day to day emotional well-being.

It is endorsed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the World Health Organisation (WHO), the NHS and lots of other bodies.

How does EMDR work?

When we experience a traumatic event or events, the memory of this can become “stuck”. This results in memories intruding into awareness when not wanted, emotional distress and unpleasant physical symptoms. EMDR helps the brain to reprocess the memory and desensitises the person to the emotional impact of it, so that they are able to think about the event without having such an intense reaction.

What does EMDR involve?

EMDR begins by us working together to develop a clear picture of your current difficulties and identifying the memories which may be linked to these. You are then supported to develop strategies for coping with unpleasant feelings and to develop ways to gain a sense of safeness. Once those things are in place and we have practiced them together, we move into “reprocessing”. This involves you recalling the traumatic incident whilst experiencing bilateral stimulation - this might be visually through being cued to move your eyes side to side, hearing sounds in alternate ears or repeatedly tapping one side of your body then the other. It is thought that this effect is similar to what happens naturally during REM sleep.

How many sessions will I need?

This depends on your needs and the complexity of the trauma you have experienced. Once we have completed an initial assessment, we will discuss a plan for treatment.

Each EMDR session is 1.5 hours long and can be held weekly or fortnightly.

Fees

See fees page for details of costs.

Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT)

CFT is an integrative therapy developed by Professor Paul Gilbert (Clinical Psychologist). It can be short or long term and is based on our understanding of the evolutionary functions of emotions, motives and self identity.

The human brain is quite 'tricky' and is full of complex emotions and conflicts because of the way it has evolved. For example, we may struggle to resist impulses and behaviours that we know are unhealthy and we can fear situations that pose no real threat, affecting our ability to live our lives in the ways that we would like.

CFT suggests that we have three emotional systems: Soothe, Drive and Threat. We can often find ourselves stuck within our Threat system, experiencing high levels of fear, anxiety, anger and shame impacting our lives and wellbeing in all sorts of ways.

How CFT can help

CFT aims to help you to make sense of how these emotions have developed and how they make total sense through the understanding of how our brains work and the social factors that form who we are, and through this understanding and the cultivation of compassion, develop increased emotional self-regulation.

CFT will help you to develop a compassionate relationship with yourself and others, and within that, build responsibility and courage to overcome the difficulties you are experiencing. As well as helping you to understand your emotions and difficulties, it provides practical tools and strategies to empower you to overcome challenges.

CFT is helpful for a wide range of difficulties but it is particularly useful for those experiencing shame, low self-esteem, social difficulties, depression, anxiety and anger.

Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP)

DDP is a model of therapy developed by Dan Hughes, a Clinical Psychologist, and is based on psychological ideas around attachment, developmental trauma and intersubjectivity between a child and their caregiver(s). Children who have experienced abuse and neglect within their early primary caregiver relationships learn that the world is unsafe, affecting their ability to form safe and secure attachments. They may have learned that to survive they need to shut down their emotional systems and work hard to keep people at a distance. They may crave closeness and intimacy but at the same time fear it, resulting in them experiencing high levels of emotional arousal and engaging in 'push-pull' dynamics with their carers. They may also present controlling behaviours in an attempt to form a sense of security. Parents and carers may find it hard to connect with their child and feel lost in how to manage their behaviours. Traditional parenting approaches which rely on trust and emotional connection rarely work with children with such adverse early experiences.

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DDP is a longer term therapy where the therapist works with the parent and child 'dyad' using an affective-reflective dialogue that supports the child to make sense of their past and present experiences, feel the emotions surrounding them and to develop a model of relationships as safe. DDP begins with several parent-only sessions. These aim to support the parent in gaining a psychological understanding of their child's difficulties and how they have developed, ensure that they understand and are comfortable with attachment parenting approaches and to build mutual trust and respect. The therapist will usually explore parents' own experiences of being parented to highlight areas they may find particularly challenging in parenting their own children, and will support them with this. They will also help parents to understand their own role within the therapy sessions. Once the child is brought into therapy, the therapist will regularly touch base separately with parents to discuss progress and any issues they are experiencing.

For further information on the DDP model please visit https://ddpnetwork.org/about-ddp/dyadic-developmental-psychotherapy/

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a short-term (usually 6-12 sessions) model of therapy which is goal-focussed and explores and challenges patterns of thinking and behaviour that may be driving and maintaining your difficulties.

Our thoughts, feelings, behaviours and physical responses are all interlinked. We develop patterns of thinking and behaviour stemming from our underlying beliefs about ourselves, other people and the world in general. These underlying beliefs grow from our life experiences and even if they do not represent reality in our current lives, we often do not stop to explore them and question the impact they are having on our emotional wellbeing and ability to reach our full potential.

CBT focuses on your current difficulties and aims to help you to break down and understand your current thinking and behavioural patterns, offering practical strategies to support you in managing your life. You will gain an understanding of how your own thinking, behaviours and emotions impact on one another and develop a 'toolkit' of practical strategies to use to improve your emotional wellbeing.

Difficulties CBT can help with

Difficulties that CBT is helpful for include those relating to anxiety, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), stress, panic, phobias and single-event traumas such as following a car accident.

Adoption Support Fund (ASF) assessments

Dr Ash has extensive experience of providing assessments through the ASF both independently and in the NHS. An ASF assessment usually comprises:

6 hours face to face assessment with the child and their caregivers. This includes the use of formalised assessment tools, clinical interviews and play-based assessments.
2 hours professional liaison. This would normally involve speaking with the child's educational provider and social worker as well as any other professionals involved in the child's care.
2 hours reviewing reports. This would usually include any previous assessment reports as well as the child's chronology and permanence report and any other social care reports deemed appropriate to inform the assessment.
4-6 hours report writing. You will receive a thorough assessment report detailing the assessment tools used, outcomes, a psychological formulation and therapeutic recommendations.

The above may vary depending on the child/ young person's individual situation and needs so please contact us for a detailed quote.

Please contact us on: email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or telephone 07754 439891 to enquire about any of our services.

Psychological Therapy for Teens

When a young person is struggling, it rarely sits in just one place.

It shows up in different ways: at home, at school, in relationships, in how they feel about themselves. And often, it doesn’t make sense when you try to look at it in isolation.

At Percuro Psychology, we take a broader, more connected view. We understand emotional and behavioural difficulties in the context of development, neurodivergence, and the environments a young person is part of, especially family and school.

Because meaningful change doesn’t come from focusing on the child alone.
It comes from understanding the whole picture.

A different way of thinking about therapy

It’s common to feel like something needs to be “fixed”.

But what we often see is something else.

A young person who is overwhelmed.
A nervous system under strain.
An environment that may not be a good fit for their needs.

What looks like anxiety, anger, withdrawal, or refusal is often a response to this.

Therapy, then, is not about changing who your child is.

It’s about understanding what’s driving their experience, and responding in a way that reduces pressure rather than adding to it.

How we work

We tailor our approach to each young person and family, drawing on evidence-based psychological therapies alongside a relational and systemic understanding.

This may include:

Supporting emotional regulation and understanding of anxiety
Making sense of patterns of behaviour and what maintains them
Exploring the impact of school, expectations, and daily demands
Supporting identity and self-understanding, particularly for neurodivergent young people
Helping parents feel more confident and steady in how they respond

We are not working in isolation with your child. We are working with you, and with the wider context around them.

Working with parents

Parents are a central part of the work.

Not because the responsibility sits with you, but because you are the most consistent and important relationship in your child’s life.

When things feel difficult, it can be hard to know:

When to hold firm
When to step back
When to offer reassurance
When reassurance might be maintaining anxiety

We help you make sense of these moments, so you can respond with greater clarity and confidence.

Often, small shifts here can have a meaningful impact over time.

Working directly with young people

Where appropriate, we also work directly with young people.

This might involve:

Helping them understand their anxiety or emotional responses
Supporting them to notice patterns and triggers
Developing ways of coping that feel achievable and relevant to them
Creating a space where they feel understood, rather than judged or “worked on”

We move at a pace that feels manageable, particularly for those who may feel uncertain about engaging.

Considering the wider system

Difficulties don’t develop in a vacuum.

School, expectations, peer relationships, and daily demands all play a role.

Where helpful, we consider how these systems may be contributing to distress, and how adjustments or different approaches may support change.

This might include thinking about:

School-related stress or attendance difficulties
Sensory and environmental demands
Mismatches between expectations and capacity

Understanding this context often brings a sense of relief, for both parents and young people.

What therapy can offer

Therapy is not a quick fix.

But it can offer:

A clearer understanding of what’s going on

A different way of responding that reduces escalation

A greater sense of steadiness and confidence as a parent

Support for your child that fits who they are

Over time, this can help things feel calmer, more connected, and more manageable.

Frequently asked questions

Do you only work with the child, or with parents as well?

We often work with both. Parent involvement is an important part of the process, as it helps create consistency and supports change beyond the therapy sessions.

Does my child need to want therapy for it to help?

Not necessarily. Many young people feel unsure about therapy at first. In these situations, starting with parent-focused work can be a helpful and effective place to begin.

Do you offer support for neurodivergent young people?

Yes. We regularly support young people where autism and/or ADHD are part of the picture, and adapt our approach accordingly.

How long does therapy last?

This varies depending on the young person and the difficulties involved. We review progress regularly and work collaboratively to decide what feels helpful and appropriate.

Do you work with schools?

Where appropriate, we can consider the role of school and how this may be contributing to difficulties. This may include offering guidance or thinking systemically about what might help.

Next steps

If you’re feeling unsure what’s going on, or what might help, you’re not alone.

We can begin by making sense of things together, and thinking about the most helpful way forward.

Book an Initial Consultation

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