In-person sessions and Reflective Parenting in South West London & Online
I’m Dr. Sheila Redfern, a consultant clinical child and adolescent psychologist with over 30 years’ experience supporting children, young people, and families. I’m the author of Reflective Parenting and How Do You Hug a Cactus? and have developed the Reflective Parenting model, training professionals and delivering interventions that strengthen parent–child relationships.
I previously worked in the NHS as a consultant in CAMHS services and developed specialist expertise in autism, attachment, fostering, and adoption. Alongside my private practice, I’m Head of Family Trauma at the Anna Freud National Centre for
Children and Families, a leading children’s mental health charity.
Helping people reach their full potential
As a clinical psychologist with extensive experience treating a wide range of psychological difficulties in children and young people, I am committed to helping each individual reach their full potential by improving their emotional and behavioural wellbeing. While I do this through direct therapeutic work, I also strongly believe in the vital role parents and carers play in supporting their child’s development, as they are often the main agents of change. For this reason, my approach focuses not only on the child or young person, but also on equipping parents and carers with the tools they need to sustain their child’s mental health.
What I Do
I am highly experienced in the assessment and treatment of attachment disorders and in promoting reflective parenting. National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) evidenced treatments are used including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Mentalization Based Treatment (MBT) and
Video Interaction Guidance (VIG).
I provide both specialist psychological assessment and evidence-based treatments for a wide range of difficulties in children and adolescents aged 0-18, and their parents and/or carers including:
Depression / Low mood
Family/relationship difficulties
Social anxiety
Panic attacks & panic disorder
Agoraphobia
Specific Phobias
Health Anxiety
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Post-Traumatic Stress
Peer relationship difficulties
Parent-infant attachment difficulties
Generalised anxiety
Examination / college or school stress
Low self-esteem
Parenting difficulties
Emerging personality disorder
Assessment of Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
Cognitive assessments
Support to foster carers and adoptive parents
Unsure whether I can help you? Simply drop me an email or call and leave a message. I may get back to you quicker by email due to the high volume of calls I receive.
Legal Services, Looked After Children and Adopted Children & Families
I have over 20 years’ experience of the assessment of children involved in care proceedings. I will provide reports for children in civil, criminal and family cases, based on a thorough assessment of the child and family involved and careful review of the court documents.
I provide an assessment and intervention service for those children who are either in the care system, subject to child protection and in need of parent-child intervention or post adoption and living with their forever family.
Children in care and post adoption are likely to experience greater than average difficulties with their mental health. Adoptive parents and foster carers are also more likely to struggle in understanding and meeting these needs, and deserve a high level of expert support.
As a registered practitioner with the Adoption Support Fund (ASF), many families are able to access funding for the support I provide, which includes:
- Support to help secure and sustain placements and family relationships
- Comprehensive mental health assessments, considering a wide range of common disorders
- Evidence-based treatment tailored to the child’s needs
- Thoughtful, experienced guidance for adoptive parents and foster carers
My goal is to stabilise placements, strengthen relationships, and help children and families thrive.
Reflective Parenting
Raising Emotionally Healthy Children
A revised edition of my best selling book Reflective Parenting, coming January 2026
New chapters include the impact of social media on children, life after Covid and navigating the tween years.
How Do You Hug a Cactus?
A new book for parents of teenagers - out now.
My new book "How Do You Hug a Cactus?" is an invaluable tool for parents with teenagers and young adults. In it's first week, it reached No. 1 in books for parents and psychology books on adolescents on Amazon.
Consultation & Supervision
I provide consultation to teams and individual professionals working in the field of child mental health, education and social care. I am qualified to supervisor level in Reflective Parenting, Reflective Fostering consultation and in Mentalization Based Treatment for Adolescents (MBTA). Practitioners in these fields wishing to receive accredited supervision are welcome to get in touch.
Learn more:
Get in touch
Feel free to email me with any questions or to arrange an initial assessment. This will help us explore your reasons for seeking therapy, whether it may be helpful, and if I am the right therapist for you.
Please also use this contact form to register for Reflective Parenting Training.
Alternatively, you can leave me a message on 07774 222241, but I may respond quicker via email due to the high volume of calls I receive. Unfortunately I am unable to offer a consultation over the phone prior to our first meeting (which may be in person or on-line). I aim to answer all enquiries within 24 hours. All contact is strictly confidential and uses secure email services.
©2025 Sheila Redfern