Parent and Carer Support
“I found the support really helpful and informative. The staff were clearly very knowledgeable. I left the session feeling confident, not alone, supported.” Parent
Positively Supporting Mental Health for Children and Young People
Parents and Carers
What we offer:
- Free online and face-to-face workshops
- Parent Support line: 07932 651319
- Private moderated Facebook support group: NESSie Parent/Carer Support Group
- 1-1 support and advice sessions
- Peer support groups
- To book support or make an enquiry, please complete THIS FORM
We understand that it can be nerve-racking or difficult when first deciding to contact us. Our team is experienced at listening to and supporting all sorts of worries or problems.
There are number of ways you can get in touch with us – we suggest you use whichever feels most comfortable.
The NESSie team is always happy to have a chat to discuss your child or family’s support needs.
Therapy
Arts Therapies
The arts therapies (Art, Drama, Music and Play), use creativity and imagination to improve mental health. The arts therapies are particularly helpful to those who prefer a less verbal approach. Children and young adults use play, drama, music or art to explore, express, reflect and recover from difficult or challenging events. Arts therapists are clinicians and are registered and regulated in the U.K. All NESSie therapists are registered with an accredited body (HCPC, UKCP, BACP or PTUK) and have been employed in line with Hertfordshire’s Safer Recruitment Policy.
Counselling
Counselling offers children, young people and their parents a secure, confidential environment where they can verbally express and understand their feelings, thoughts and emotions. NESSie therapists are trained in CBT and Humanistic approaches which are useful for anxiety, low mood and relationship difficulties.
ASC / LD & Mental health support workers
Our autism and learning difficulties specialists work with children, young people and their families to support the communication, self-esteem and emotional regulation of people with neurodiversity.
Our Mental Health Support Workers have a range of skills including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Dialectic Behavioural Therapy (DBT), and Solution Focused Therapy (SFT). They are also trained in emotional coaching, autism awareness, attachment theory, trauma and person-centred counselling skills. Our Support Workers offers an affordable early intervention for children and young people with emerging mental health needs.
Race & Equality
Nessie welcomes diversity. We value difference and are proud to support those from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds, of different genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions and disabilities.
National Support Services:
- Childline – if you’re under 19, you can call 0800 1111 to talk to the helpline between 7.30am and 3.30am every day. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
- HOPELINEUK (Papyrus) – Tel: 0800 0684141 Text: 0778 6209697 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org, 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends and bank holidays.
- Samaritans – Call 116 123 to talk or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours.
- Anna Freud – a children’s charity dedicated to providing training & support for child mental health services.
- National Autistic Society – The UK’s leading charity for autistic people and their families.
Parent Videos

Race & Equality
Nessie welcomes diversity. We value difference and are proud to support those from a range of social and ethnic backgrounds, of different genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions and disabilities.
NESSie is not a Crisis Service
If you’re a parent of a child or a young person in a mental health crisis:
Other services that might be useful are:
- Childline – if you’re under 19, you can call 0800 1111 to talk to the helpline between 7.30am and 3.30am every day. The number will not appear on your phone bill.
- HOPELINEUK (Papyrus) – Tel: 0800 0684141 Text: 07786209697 Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org, 10am-10pm weekdays, 2pm-10pm weekends and bank holidays.
- Samaritans – Call 116 123 to talk or email: jo@samaritans.org for a reply within 24 hours.