One of our therapists working across Kirklees, James Myers, has shared what it’s like to work with children, young people and parents to help them understand more about neurodivergence using Brief Partnership Interventions (BPI) and how it can help families create positive outcomes.
"On typical day, I’m out visiting students in schools across Kirklees delivering counselling or BPI - helping children and young people who are seeking mental health support.
I also regularly work with our partner Invictus Wellbeing in Huddersfield, using their space to work with students who are not currently attending school. With parents, sessions usually take place at Invictus’ office or via Microsoft Teams, although they occasionally happen within schools as well.
By working with Invictus, who provide a social prescribing service and access to a wide range of in-house support, we have been able to make strong progress in supporting families while they wait for longer-term services.
What is BPI
BPI is a short, focused piece of work designed to help parents, children and young people understand more about neurodivergence and how it affects their lives. It includes elements of psychoeducation as well as exploring ideas around how to best manage common issues.
The rollout of BPI aims to provide timely support, advice, and education to parents, children, and young people who are:
- awaiting assessment
- preparing to request an assessment
- already diagnosed but waiting for services (or struggling to access them)
Currently, I am the only therapist delivering BPI across Kirklees, which means my time is often shared between one-to-one therapeutic work and BPI. Despite this, engagement from both parents and young people has been consistently positive.
A key strength of BPI is its collaborative nature: families set their own goals, which helps build a sense of shared ownership from the outset.
Navigating parents’ experiences
Parents can sometimes feel confused by assessment pathways and overwhelmed by processes. I often reflect on how my observations can be used constructively at the end of my involvement.
BPI sessions can be a positive experience for parents who tend to focus more on the challenges they experience and welcome the chance to express their frustrations and anxieties.
Counselling skills are essential here, not only to hold space for those emotions, but also to support parents as they share their fears for their children.
Working with parents often includes exploring and making sense of their own emotions and behaviours too – which includes thinking practically about how to provide structure and predictability at home.
Building confidence in children
Children and young people frequently mask their difficulties in school, meaning that signs of neurodivergence can go unnoticed. This can add extra pressure for families who are managing intense emotional responses at home.
Because my role allows me to see a presentation more directly reflective of their natural thoughts, feelings, and neurodevelopmental differences, I can often provide valuable evidence to support conversations around assessments, Education, Health and Care Plans, and appropriate next steps – supporting not just them, but also their parents and schools.
One of the most common difficulties children and young people present with is a feeling of being “different” from their peers. While BPI includes a clear educational component, there is also an important focus on supporting the development of a positive sense of self.
Helping children and young people understand how their minds and bodies work, and why, is a crucial step. From there, the work focuses on building confidence, finding their voice, and supporting them to recognise and ask for what they need."
Find out more about the services we offer to children and young people here.
