Alex Carling: Training & Therapeutic Services

13/07/2026

Parents/Carers of neurodivergent kids often find that old school parenting ways, do not work for their child.

It is not a case of learning and developing through challenges, when their challenges are neurobiological.

Anxiety for an Autistic child for example, is like the colour of their eyes. It's a part of them, it's how their nervous system responds to the work and people around them.

BUT, they can influence it, in ways they can't their eye colour.

BUT, only if you hold space for it and allow them to develop curiosity, understanding and confidence.

This is what it means to enable our neurodivergent children.

By parenting to their neurodivergent needs, we are enabling them to mask less, take better care of themselves and be well.

This is an example of some of the conversations that emerge when I hold groups for parents - they take space to confront the messages from predominantly well-meaning people in their lives and to develop a framework that works for them, and their children.

There are still places left in our Summer Neurodivergent Programme:
💛 Two groups, running side by side
💛 One group for parents, one for the children
💛 Facilitated by experienced psychotherapists
💛 Tailored to meet the needs of attendees

http://www.counsellinginhull.co.uk/hull-summer-programme

07/07/2026

Are you a parent/carer of a child with a neurodiversity in the Hull and Beverley areas?

Are you looking for summer activities that meet the needs of your child, where they are safe and having fun, whilst you can be there but with your own space too?

Is it hard to tell what's right for you and your child, and what may be offering to goods but falling short on delivering?

Our 2026 Summer Neurodiversity Programme could be a contender for all the right reasons,
☑ it's therapeutic,
☑ it's led by two very experienced and dynamic psychotherapists and,
☑ it's personalised for attendees, not pre-written. Created FOR YOU!

Here are 7 reasons parents join us...

💛 They have knowledge gaps and want to understand the 'whys' to support their parenting

💛 They are looking for information specifically tailored to ‘their’ child, not for the general population

💛 Years of advocacy and years of believing they are at fault, has left them lacking in confidence and self-belief that they are enough and a good enough parent

💛 They don’t have a support system of people that have experiences similar to their own, and that is hard and isolating.

💛 They are looking for strategies that fit their families needs ‘and’ their life-style. Non-negotiables won’t go away, it’s the strategies that need adapting!

💛 They feel gaslit, and now they’re wondering if they are the problem. When kids mask, parents can be the only ones to ‘see’ the challenges.

(You’re not going crazy!)

💛 They are exhausted and don’t know what else to do. They come hoping for some space to breathe, for someone to help them make sense of things and help them climb back into being who they know they are.

Join us; learn, give yourself space (* whilst Matilda provides a group for your child) and access tailored support!

For dates and times, price packages and more, head to https://www.counsellinginhull.co.uk/hull-neurodiversity-summer-programme

If you've got any questions, that's what we're here for!

* Suitable for children with learning ages between 6-11 years.

03/07/2026

As you email us with your interest, we take the time to explore what the needs of each family are. We do this because:

💛 Life isn't a one size fits all - no neurodivergent person is the same. Yes there are names such as PDA, but how this is expressed is individual

💛 Our programme isn't pre-designed, it is bespoke; made for the people attending on that day

💛 Some families have had a lot of support but are still struggling - this inform us of a lot. We'll work to understand what's been missing for you

💛 Anxiety is a common experience for neurodivergent folks - what delivers this to their system is uniquely there own needs and how their nervous system responds to the environment - our aim is to be inclusive and so - accommodations will always be made

If this is what you've been looking for and your in the Hull / East Riding area - head to https://www.counsellinginhull.co.uk/hull-neurodiversity-summer-programme
.or drop me a message and I can tell you more.

There are still a few places available for all 4 sessions. The dates are:
August 5th | August 12th | August 19th | August 26th and sessions run 14:30-16:00

02/07/2026

Blink and the summer holidays will be here - blink again and it will be gone!

Hull and East Yorkshire parents/carers of neurodivergent children - we have a Summer Programme for you offering:
💛 Groups for parents and groups for neurodivergent children, ran separately, yet side-by-side
💛 Creativity for everyone, to learn, regulate and connect through
💛 Safe spaces to play, have fun, develop awareness and understanding
💛 Opportunity to learn more about your children's challenges and develop new ways of supporting them
💛 Learn about the nervous system and how it impacts your children, and you!

There is so many more benefits available, do reach out to find out more. Oh, did I mention...

💛 Both groups are facilitated by highly trained and experienced psychotherapists?

Save the dates, reach out to get booked on and we'll see you there ✨

Link: https://www.counsellinginhull.co.uk/hull-neurodiversity-summer-programme

~ Alex and Matilda

01/07/2026

Let us help and hold you, whilst you help and hold them.

We (Matilda and I), understand the weight of advocacy for parents/carers of children with a neurodiversity.

We understand that your own regulation/sense of OKness, is so very entwined with that of your neurodivergent child.

We understand that your friends' and family's experience of parenting, may not mirror your own, and that can leave you feeling isolated and alone.

We understand that whilst you may crave some consistency and predictability, you have no choice but accept that the presence of these are likely fleeting.

If you are looking for fun, creative and safe spaces for your neurodivergent children this summer, and you can get to Beverley, East Yorkshire ~ we invite you to our Neurodiversity Summer Programme where your children will be in a group that runs alongside a group for the parents.

The groups are led by two very experience psychotherapists (that me and Matilda), they are separate groups that run alongside each other. They offer space, safety and transition time.

Find out more - DM me, comment here or head to the link in my bio!

~ Alex and Matilda

30/06/2026

Our doors are open and we welcome you to express your interest.

We have parents and child groups ran side by side, for parents/carers and their neurodivergent children.

Both groups are therapist led by psychothearpists with extensive experience and training in the areas of trauma, attachment and neurodiversity.

Both groups provide creativity to explore difficulties, sensory systems, burnout and more.

Located in Beverley, we are offering 4 sessions (one per week) and we also have packages to support larger families and accessibility.

Please feel free to ask any questions via the post, DMs or via https://www.counsellinginhull.co.uk/hull-neurodiversity-summer-programme -the-parent-group-we-can-explore

We look forward to welcoming you ~ Alex and Matilda.

30/04/2026

As a therapist, I still choose to have weekly therapy. It's there when I need it for my client work, it's there when I need it for life. It's there when I'm feeling off but don't know why...

As a therapist, I also understand that my body holds memories and emotions too. It feels its way through my life, and feels its way through my client work too.

It holds and stores what I don't process in the moment, often out of my awareness. I feel it building, but its non-verbal quality can make it hard to release.

Today I had therapy for my body - the tension in my shoulders, the emotion in my neck and the base of my head. My massage therapist is a genius and she uses her body to feel her way through mine. Stopping right where it hurts and knowing to do so in a way that leaves me in awe.

Sharing this with you is sharing what I value professionally and personally, whilst also holding space whilst I sit a little longer with that lingering gratefulness as my body continues to settle 💛

28/04/2026

I found this in an IFS (Internal Family Systems) group and thought it is such a valuable resource, I'm sharing it with you (original source )

Why is it valuable?

Our experiences can sometimes sever our connection with ourselves or parts of ourselves. You're not expected to know how to deal with that, or heal it, because most cultures, aren't taught how to or encouraged to honour yourself in this way.

So I invite you to receive this image as information to be curious about. This is just information, it doesn't hold a magic key - your mind-body holds that already. This can support your curiosity around how your experiences land in your system 💛

Alex

24/03/2026

Taken from Black Liturgies by

What can you take from this?

The loudest part for me is 'Of bodies, these holy beautiful bodies, that are working a thousand unseen miracles...'

I am in awe of our bodies.

20/03/2026

*may be triggering*

Carolyn Spring is a fabulous teacher, and I'm forever grateful for the opportunity I had to be trained by her some years ago.

I'm sharing this to highlight what can be meant by the word Trauma. The word has arguably become diluted in society and by therapists too; some assume working with trauma is like other symptoms and presentations, but this is not always the case. As Carolyn shares in both her informed and vulnerable way; it's important that you check out your therapist's training if you want to work around trauma.

It's OK to ask the questions, you are the interviewer.

Alex 💛

Re-experiencing traumatic memories and flashbacks are perhaps the most obvious way that we are pushed out of our window of tolerance in the therapy room. But...