Hull Summer Programme for Parents and Neurodivergent Children
Summer 2026
Four sessions (1 x weekly)
Two groups, running side-by-side, for parents and neurodivergent children
Led by two therapists
Creating summer structure, connection and creativity.
Alex and Matilda invite parents and carers to the Summer Programme with the aim of providing neurodivergent children with much valued structure, space to be their whole selves, and to explore creativity that enhances their regulation and understanding of themselves.
Parents will also have their own separate space and opportunity to explore their own wellbeing, expand their knowledge and connect with themselves and others.
“It can feel like you’re the only one finding parenting tough and having someone kind who understands how difficult it can be really really helps.”
Why these Groups are Important
Summer holidays can be a difficult time, especially for neurodiverse families. You find yourself navigating unstructured time and spaces that don’t always understand and meet the needs of your children, along with a deep desire to provide a ‘good time’.
For the Parents/Carers:
Our group for parents will run alongside the group for your children, in the same building. Space and time is allocated for transitions in and out of the groups and both spaces are facilitated by therapists with training and experience in neurodiversity. This group will be facilitated by Alex Carling, Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor.
The parent’s group will offer you:
Opportunity to connect with other parents and carers in neurodiverse families
Knowledge to support your understanding of the traits that you find most challenging
Space to take time, talk and slow down whilst their children are safe and having fun
Resources to support your own mental health and well-being
For the Children:
Our group for children with a neurodiversity, whether they have a diagnosis or not. They will be facilitated by Matilda Harper, MA Dramatherapist and have a focus on offering structure and creativity to promote their well-being and abilities to stay well during the long summer weeks.
The children’s group with offer them:
Structure, creativity and sensory exploration
A sense of security by providing a routine throughout the summer break. This routine acts as an anchor, helping to reduce anxiety and offer stability during a time in which normal routines are disrupted
Opportunities for young people to spend time with peers who have similar perspectives and experiences. Sharing time with others who understand and relate to their ways of experiencing the world encourages connection and fosters a valuable sense of belonging
Enjoyable activities that develop proprioceptive senses. These exercises are designed to be both fun and beneficial, helping participants to explore and navigate their environment more consciously
Emotional regulation activities that are not only enjoyable but also easy to remember and replicate at home. The intention is to equip young people with practical strategies they can use independently to manage their emotions
A safe and accepting environment where young people feel free to be themselves. Here, there is no expectation to mask or alter their behaviours to fit in, supporting authenticity and self-acceptance
What Makes the Groups Therapeutic?
For the Parents/Carers:
There are similarities to a regular support groups as we will explore resources and the group may offer their experiences to support the navigation of your own, however, there are also differences. As the group is therapist led, there is opportunity to explore thoughts, feelings, and how they relate to others in a safe, real-time setting. There will also be opportunities to experience your own nervous system through creativity and mindfulness.
The group for parents will be facilitated by Alex, she is a psychotherapist and clinical supervisor with a special interest in working with the mind-body connection, neurodiversity and trauma.
For the Children:
We’re here to create a fun, safe, and welcoming space for young people functioning at the learning ages 6 to 11. We will use games, art, music and sensory activities to support the mental wellbeing of your young people.
The group will be facilitated by Matilda, an experienced HCPC Registered creative psychotherapist, with eight years’ experience of working with children who are neuro-diverse.
We offer activities that inspire fun, creativity, and discovery. Here are some examples:
Parachute games
Building obstacle courses
Group drawing activities
Sculpting with clay
Making slime
Creating sensory support kits
In the Parent Group, we can Explore:
Below are some examples of what often comes up when a group of parents and carers of neurodivergent kids get together—and they are examples of why groups like this can feel so invaluable.
The Diagnosis: Your child may or may not have a diagnosis, either way, your journey, your battles, and your emotions are all valid and welcome here.
The Weight of Advocacy: The mental and emotional labour involved in advocating for our neurodivergent children can feel parents and carers feeling exhausted and isolated. Our aim is to offer you opportunity to learn more about this and learn how to address it within your own body.
Finding Your Identity: You are more than ‘just’ a parent/carer—this space will hopefully encourage you to notice where your other identities show up and which ones are valuable to your wellbeing.
Parental Burnout: You don’t get much space, but you need and crave it. Does that sound familiar? You will experience short and impactful activities that you can do at home, sometimes with just a breath.
Building Community: Connecting with other parents on a profound level helps to break through the isolation and find strength in shared experiences.
Resources: Below are a number of topics you may want to explore and learn more about. ‘Resources’ are the things that are helpful to us, in general day-to-day and also in times of crisis. We can explore and develop tools to meet the needs of your kids, whether that’s regulation strategies or structuring your morning to offer the scaffolding needed for you and your kids to feel supported in daily tasks.
Possible Learning Themes:
Sensory diets: seeking and avoiding behaviours
Burnout: the role of the nervous system
PDA (persistent drive for autonomy/pathological demand avoidance)
EBSA (emotionally based school avoidance/non-attendance/school refusal)
Advocacy
Scaffolding: what you need to effort less
Isolation, and more
“Alex really listened to me and understood the difficulties we’re experiencing as a family. She is very knowledgeable and gave me some good ideas to move forward with.”
Group Details
There are 4 x 90 minutes sessions ran through the last 4 weeks of the summer holidays. There is an individual/single session option and a package option, which offers a discount.
If you are a parent/carer of a neurodivergent child, but wish to attend without your child accessing the child group, there is a separate fee for you too.
The children’s group will have a maximum of 8 members to ensure all children are held within the group, in a safe and appropriate manner.
Format & Duration
Each group runs on a Wednesday afternoon (see below for exact dates) from the location: Waffle21, Colonial House, Swinemoor Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 0LS
Each group will start at 14:30 - 16:00
The last 30 minutes of the group will bring both groups together for a transition into the end.
2026 Hull Summer Programme Dates:
14:20 - 16:00
August 5th
August 12th
August 19th
August 26th
How to Join
Please click a contact button to express your interest and we will get back to you and send you an online form that will help us assess your suitability. It’s important that we can meet the needs of your child, to ensure they have a positive experience.
Following completion of the form (please let us know if you would prefer to complete this with one of us on the phone), we will offer you a 15 minute telephone consultation where we can both explore us working together, in more detail.
The call will be led by Alex or Matilda.
Once we are all happy to proceed together, an invoice will be sent and payment is required upon receipt. Payment will confirm your places in your chosen groups.
Following confirmation, you will recieve some further information to help you and your child anticipate what to expect, we hope this reduces anxiety and we welcome you to ask any questions.
About Matilda Harper
Matilda is a passionate and highly experienced HCPC Registered Dramatherapist, holding a Master's degree from Roehampton University (2022). She specialises in the deep connection between trauma and attachment, and how these patterns influence the way we navigate the world and relate to others.
Matilda is dedicated to supporting people to find, and love their most authentic versions of themselves without feeling the need to hide or alter their behaviours to fit in.
Matilda’s broad experience also includes working with:
• Adolescents at CAMHS.
• Individuals with convictions.
• Carers of those living with dementia.
• Clients on their journey of addiction recovery.
Before her therapeutic career, Matilda previously facilitated short breaks programmes for young people with learning disabilities with Endorphins LTD and worked with Hull Truck theatre facilitating workshops and consultation to improve access to the arts for people learning differences and from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Her therapeutic approach is fundamentally creative and relational. She believes in meeting each client exactly where they are, utilising drama, storytelling, and imaginative play to foster connection, deep healing, and self-expression.
About Alex Carling
Professionally, Alex is a psychotherapist and supervisor in private practice, working predominantly with neurodivergent clients. She holds a BSc. (Hons.) in Psychology, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Clinical Supervision, and is a Certified Brainspotting Clinician. Alex works closely with her neurodivergent clinical supervisor and has a Specialist Diploma in Neurodiversity-Informed Practice.
Alex has been in practice since 2012, specialising in the areas of trauma, attachment, and neurodiversity. Her approach is rooted in the power of connection, with a deep understanding of the nervous system and what's needed to feel safe. In her groups, she fosters an environment where members can be vulnerable and learn from each other with curiosity and creativity.
There is never an expectation to participate, only an invitation. Sometimes, simply sitting comfortably on the edge is the first time in a long time that safety can be felt.
Personally, Alex self-identifies as neurodivergent and is a parent to two neurodivergent children. Her passion for ensuring parents have the right support is born from both her professional and personal experiences. She warmly invites you to take your space in the parent group.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the cost of the group?
Per family, the fee is £60 per session or £50 if you choose to attend all 4 sessions. Please see above for further details.What is the commitment for the sessions?
The sessions are open - you can commit as little or as much as you like, e.g. you may choose to attend 1, 2 or all of them (total of 4); a discount per family is offered for all 4 sessions when booked together.
Is this an online or in-person group?
The sessions are in-person at Waffle21, Colonial House, Swinemoor Lane, Beverley, East Yorkshire, HU17 0LS.There is ample parking and disability access.
What is the group size?
There will be a maximum of 8 children in the children’s group, and their accompany parents/s, including any parents attending without their children.How is this different from a regular support group?
Parents: There are similarities to a regular support group as we will explore resources and the group may offer their experiences to support the navigation of your own, however, there are also differences. As they are therapist led, there is opportunity to explore thoughts, feelings, and how they relate to others in a safe, real-time setting. There will also be opportunities to experience your own nervous system through creativity and mindfulness.Alex will facilitate the parent group, as a clinical supervisor and psychotherapist, she has years of experience facilitating groups and working with parents who want to develop knowledge and skill in their roles as parents and carers.
Children:
We’re here to create a fun, safe, and welcoming space for young people functioning at the learning ages 6 to 11. We will use games, art, music and sensory activities to support the mental wellbeing of your young people. The group will be facilitated by Matilda, an experienced HCPC Registered creative psychotherapist, with eight years’ experience of working with children who are neurodiverse.
We offer activities that inspire fun, creativity, and discovery. Here are some examples:
Parachute games
Building obstacle courses
Group drawing activities
Sculpting with clay
Making slime
Creating sensory support kits
What if I don't feel comfortable sharing?
Participation is by invitation, not expectation. Sometimes just being present and listening can be a powerful experience - it’s important that members feel safe. Feeling safe in the sessions could be the therapeutic take-away; learning how it feels in your body to feel safe and what contributes to this.Do I have to have a formal diagnosis to join?
Neither you or your children need to have a formal diagnosis. Matilda and Alex recognises the challenges to receive an assessment and advocates for the self-determining stance.Is this group suitable for parents of children with specific diagnoses (e.g., ADHD, Autism)?
Yes, absolutely. Neurodiversity spans many diagnosis, including dyslexia, dyspraxia, sensory processing and acquired brain injury (this list is not exhaustive)Can both parents attend?
Yes.What is the consultation call for?
The consultation call is an opportunity to connect with Alex or Matilda, to ask your questions, and explore whether the sessions are a good fit for your needs.Is there a waiting list?
Not currently. There are people who have expressed interest but spaces are still available.