The session will be led by:
Gemma Gay, Schools Delivery Manager and Counsellor from the YMCA
Paige Varney, Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and Mental Health Nurse from the Mental Health Support Team
With their extensive experience of supporting young people and families, they will provide an engaging and practical insight into adolescent development.
During the evening, parents and carers will explore how the teenage brain develops and how this influences emotions, behaviour, decision-making and relationships. The session will also cover why teenagers can sometimes appear impulsive, struggle with emotional regulation, take greater risks or find communication challenging. Most importantly, Gemma and Paige will share practical strategies to help parents respond with confidence, strengthen communication, support emotional wellbeing and build positive relationships with their children during this important stage of development.
Whether your child is just beginning their secondary school journey or is already navigating the challenges of adolescence, this session aims to provide reassurance, understanding and practical tools that can be used at home.
To help us plan the event, below is a link to a Google Form for parents and carers to register their attendance. We would also be very grateful if you could complete the form even if you are unable to attend, as your feedback will help us understand what topics and events would be most valuable to offer our parent community in the future.