Parent who attended STOP Group

I am just writing to thank you both for all the support and advice you have imparted over the 10 week STOP course.

When I sought help through CAMHS initially last summer, we were on the verge of losing control completely, and attempting to support my daughter in her challenging behaviour was bringing me to breaking point and having a massively negative impact on the other children and family life in general. This was the low point after 10 years of struggle and I really could not see any way forward.

Now I have a happy child, who smiles and hugs, thrives at school, who snipes at the others less, who has not lost control for weeks despite a couple of challenging incidents which, in the past, would have caused an explosion. She is also increasingly self-aware and can recognise aspects of her behaviour which have caused a negative impact on both herself and us. And all of this without ever speaking to a doctor or a counsellor.

This massive sea-change has come from changes in my approach and my partner’s, based on what we have learnt from you. Initially I could not see how me attending a course could possibly have such an effect on my ‘problematic’ child and I only came in order to open other doors for us, but in retrospect, this course may well be all we need to move forward and deal with the challenges normal teenage behaviour will throw at us. Just knowing that you are at the end of a phone, if things deteriorate, is like being given a panic button !

We are all so much happier and my relationship with my daughter has changed beyond what I would ever have hoped. Fingers crossed it lasts, I will keep trying very hard. Thank you to you both. Please feel free to share what I have said in this letter with your sponsors”