Kay is Mum to 11 year old Jenny
My daughter Jenny is autistic and gets very anxious. Changing schools was incredibly stressful – Jenny was having panic attacks 2-3 times a week and we often had to call the NHS mental health crisis team.
"I could listen and understand and then have discussions with her about how to manage her emotions and give her a sense of greater control in our family situation."
Taking part in the LOHA programmes helped me understand Jenny’s anxieties in more detail – I could listen and understand and then have discussions with her about how to manage her emotions and give her a sense of greater control in our family situation. I had initially tried to protect her by not telling her what happened about some of the things that had happened before she was born. However, I hadn’t realised how Jenny had picked up on conversations and was concerned about what she had overheard. As she was listening in, she felt she couldn’t ask questions about things she thought I didn’t want her to know.
The Systemic Therapy activities allowed us to playfully build our relationship. Jenny realised she could trust me and ask questions and we could more open conversations about what worried her.
"Five months later Jenny loves her new school, and there have been no panic attacks – I tell all my friends and other parents how wonderful LOHA has been."
