Reflective Parenting Training

Course Tutor: Dr. Sheila Redfern

Course Fee: £500 (including training and course materials) 

Course Length: 12 hours training over two to three days on Zoom.

Course Dates: 28^th, 29^th January and 4^th February 2026 9.30am-1.30pm

Course Requirements: This course is open to any professional working with parents in a mental health, primary care, educational or social care setting. It is applicable to those working within teams and working independently.

Course Follow Up: At the end of the training, participants will be offered the opportunity of investing in further supervision with Dr Redfern to support their Reflective Parenting Practice. 

Training for Professionals

Based on my acclaimed books Reflective Parenting and How Do You Hug a Cactus?, I offer a training to front line professionals in my model of mentalization-based parenting. This practical, clinical training trains professionals in how to use Reflective Parenting in their practice; working both individually and in groups of parents. The model of Reflective Parenting promotes positive outcomes for children’s emotional and behavioural wellbeing, where there are difficulties in the parent-child relationship. 

This training will delve into applying mentalization, attachment theory, and reflective functioning for enhanced emotional and behavioural wellbeing in children. The course has been developed to address behavioural difficulties and anxiety in children and young people, and emphasises parental self-mentalizing and collaboration in group settings.  

You will also be coached in using a range of mentalizing tools unique to the Reflective Parenting model, which helps parents to connect with their children in positive and meaningful ways.  

Aims of the Training

• To learn about the key features of Reflective Parenting, its theoretical link to reflective functioning, attachment and theory of mind, and its application to working with parents with young children.

• To promote practitioner abilities in employing a mentalizing stance in work with parents.

• To develop practitioner skills in providing practical tools to parents to help explain and practice Reflective Parenting including the Parent APP and Parent Map.

• To describe and part-train professionals in the running of a Reflective Parenting Group.

After the Training

You will receive a copy of my Reflective Parenting manual (for younger children or for teenagers) or workbook. These materials will be your guide to running Reflective Parenting sessions or groups for parents. 

Following the training you will have developed a range of skills in establishing an alliance and working collaboratively with parents and will have developed skills in the use of the Reflective Parenting tools; the Emotional Thermometer, Professional APP, Parenting App, Two Hands and Parent Map.  

In order to establish model fidelity and to support you in your work, I offer follow up consultation/supervision to help you develop adherence to the Reflective Parenting model.