Dr Rose Psychology

11/10/2025

Why the context surrounding our mental health really matters!! The social world around us, the norms, the policies from government, the social care and community services, and the groups we’re exposed to… it all has an impact on us, and on our children.

It’s all very well asking children to “build resilience” but how realistic is that if we don’t address these other things too?

Love this post from .clinical.psychologistjulietyoung

While the world focuses on mental health for the day, let's consider that mental health is heavily determined by social context.

This model by Compton and Shim (2019) was one of my first ever illustrations when I started this page 5 (!) Years ago.

What other social determinants would you add?

23/09/2025

❌⚠️Trump has claimed today that paracetamol in pregnancy and vaccines cause autism.

This is dangerous misinformation that has been widely disproved. Large research studies of millions of births have shown no link.

So what is causing the increase in autism?! The diagnostic criteria are much broader now than they were fourty years ago. Many more people are now recognised as autistic, meaning that diagnosis rates have increased amongst children, adults and elderly people.

This increased rate of diagnosis does not mean that there is something happening to “cause” autism.

Autism is a term that covers a very wide range of people. As the saying goes, “if you’ve met one autistic person… you’ve met one autistic person”. There is so much wonderful variety within the autistic community. We know there are often (but not always) genetic factors at play. But generally scientists agree there won’t be a single “cause” identified.

What Donald Trump has shared is false. There is no strong evidence backing up his claims.❌⚠️

15/09/2025

Taking part in this important consultation, gathering alongside fantastic local clinicians and support services, and sharing our concerns, challenges and hopes for the way SEND and Mental Health are supported in Worcestershire… it’s been a big week! Thank you Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum for organising. Let’s keep this momentum up! I am fully committed to any future meetings. These conversations are so important (despite me having to dip out of the meeting a little early to support my own child’s needs…!)

**Worcestershire SEND Mental Health Roundtable Reveals Critical Support Gaps**

This week Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum brought together representatives of 14 local SEND charities and mental health professionals from across Worcestershire including: HWDA, WPCC, Autism/ADHD Mentoring & Support Team- Key2Confidence, Autism West Midlands, Own time and space, ARCOS Therapy Centre, Dr Rose Psychology, Halcyon CIC Clinical psychology and animal assisted therapy, SEND National Crisis Worcestershire, ASPIE and Bonterre CIC.

They met with Jade Brooks, Director of Operations & Delivery at Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and Daniela Carson, Assistant Director of All-Age Disability at Worcestershire County Council. Gathering to discuss mental health challenges facing children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) in Worcestershire, the key findings highlighted significant systemic issues:

👶Inadequate Early Intervention - Professionals unanimously stressed the lack of timely, appropriate mental health support for neurodivergent children, with many families experiencing repeated service rejections.

📉Service Limitations - Current mental health services, particularly CAMHS, were criticized for:
• Rigid, inflexible approaches
• Inappropriate therapeutic methods
• Limited understanding of neurodivergent needs
• Insufficient communication between services

🏫Educational Challenges - Participants emphasised schools' struggles to:
• Recognise subtle mental health indicators
• Support children who mask their difficulties
• Provide holistic, individualised support

NHS leaders Jade and Daniela acknowledged these systemic shortcomings, recognising the need for:
✅Personalized, needs-led approaches
✅Better partnership working, including drawing on the local SEND and mental health expertise that the roundtable featured
✅More flexible mental health interventions
✅Comprehensive support beyond traditional diagnostic models

The roundtable concluded with a commitment to reconvene and include professionals from across the NHS mental health service & WCC SEND Services. WPCF will keep you updated.

10/09/2025

What a privilege it was to meet so many fabulous parents and carers at Worcestershire Parent Carer Forum. The empathy, care, and connection within the room was incredible. We shared experiences of navigating our children’s and young people’s needs (largely within education)… and time flew by! It really felt like we only scratched the surface of some of these deeply important conversations. I hope at the very least that people felt heard, validated, understood and absolutely not alone 💙

Thank you so much for having me, I hope to be back again in the future! Own time and space were such wonderful, caring hosts (and what a great sensory space they have!!)

Tonight was SEND Cuppa & Chat in Bromsgrove with guest speaker Dr Rose Psychology.💗More than 20 parent carers joined us from across the county and shared their experiences. We heard anger at children waiting years for an autism diagnosis, frustration at prolonged waiting for ADHD titration and heartache at being gaslit by an unsupportive education system. We even heard about a school managing a waiting list of parents wanting an EHCP application to be made! 🤦🏾The good news is that parent carers found the session supportive and empowering. Check out this feedback from one of the attendees.👇

"This was my first visit and I was made to feel so welcome, included and validated. Thank you so much. What a refreshing difference to be surrounded by people who just ‘get it’."

10/09/2025

It`s not too late to join our next Volunteer Course which runs each Thursday 930am - 1.00pm for nine weeks from 18th September.
To find out more ring 01562 825896 or email info@homestartwyreforest.org.uk

01/09/2025

Some alternatives to “doubling down on 100% attendance”…

⭐ gradual transitions back to school, at a pace your child can manage

⭐ setting up ‘escape routes’ or ‘flight paths’ (clear and practiced strategies your child can use to move out of an overwhelming situation and into a space of safety)

⭐ listening to what your child says and how they feel about the return to school this week. Communicating this to their teacher/SENCO and making an individual plan based on their needs.

For some children, getting back to school is no where near as simple as pressuring parents to “double down” on 100% attendance. For some children the school they currently attend does not, or cannot, meet their needs. And so many children are in limbo awaiting a specialist placement somewhere that takes months or years to materialise.

To all those parents, this time of year can feel impossibly hard. Especially when we see endless happy posts of smiling children in their neat uniforms returning joyfully to school.

Ignore the news and social media, and listen to your child ❤️

12/08/2025

Sibling rivalry can feel soooo much more intense when family time is increased( like during school holidays!!) Some helpful tips here from Sibs - for brothers and sisters of autistic children ☺️

Is sibling rivalry getting you down? Find out ways to tackle arguments between your sibling child and their disabled or autistic brother/sister here. https://www.sibs.org.uk/supporting-young-siblings/parents/dealing-with-sibling-rivalry

12/08/2025

This is something we hear time and time again! Too many children grow up believing their struggles are a reflection of their ability or effort - when in fact, they simply process information differently.
That’s why awareness is so important; it helps stop the stigma and gets people talking with more understanding.

Looking for support? Visit our resources page for lots of helpful information, facts, downloads and webinars: https://bit.ly/4msofnY

06/08/2025

Free Stay and Play, and Dad’s Group running in August with the wonderful The Koala Tree 🐨 🌴

WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK?🐨

🧸SUMMER STAY & PLAY
On Tuesday 5th August….
We know that it’s frustrating when groups and classes shut up over the summer break🏖️. That’s why we are so thrilled that our Peer Support Worker Anna has suggested she comes back to run a Stay and Play over the summer!

She’ll be at The Old Needleworks on Tuesdays, 10am-12pm for 4 weeks over the summer holidays:
⏱️05 August
⏱️12 August

Free to attend thanks to National Lottery funding🩵

Hot drinks, snacks and toys ready for you!☕️
______________
✨NEW✨ 🩵DAD’S STAY & PLAY

On Saturday 9th August at 10am-12pm
The Dads are taking the reins! The Dads who come to The Dads group have decided to set up a Stay & Play. Run by Dads, for Dads. Dads bring your little ones 0-3 years old all welcome. We have toys, hot drinks, biscuits and chat!

Find us at;
📍The Old Needleworks, Britten Street, B97 6HD

Feel free to just turn up, we look forward to seeing you there 🐨

05/08/2025

Working with dyslexic children means I am sometimes also working with dyslexic parents (hello genetics 👋). I love finding support groups for adults, like this one, to share with any parents who may benefit.

* Studies show that genes can play a significant role in dyslexia. This means that children with a dyslexic parent or sibling are more likely to be dyslexic too. That’s why a good dyslexia assessment will usually ask about family history. However like all things it’s never that straightforward, there are a whole host of other factors which need to be considered too. If in doubt, an assessment from an experienced and qualified assessor can help *

British Dyslexia Association

Every month we host a free online get-together, and we’d love for you to join us!

This is a safe, supportive space to connect with like-minded individuals, share experiences, and discuss the everyday realities of dyslexia. Whether you're personally affected or supporting someone who is, this is a chance to be part of a welcoming community that truly understands.

📅 Tuesday 19th August 2025 12pm - 1pm
🔗 https://bit.ly/4lZfbqZ