http://www.aylesburytherapyforkids.co.uk/

Aylesbury Therapy for Kids, Fairford Leys Way, Aylesbury (2025)

02/12/2025

From Piled-Up Plates to Real Progress: A Small Breakthrough…
“Why won’t he just bring the plates down?”
It sounds like such a small thing — but for many parents navigating ADHD-related challenges, it’s these everyday tasks that become the biggest emotional battlegrounds. In Bucks, I often meet families who feel confused, frustrated, and secretly worried that this level of resistance means something bigger is wrong. That’s exactly how this mum felt with her 10-year-old son.
Plates were piling up in his room. Mum would ask, remind, nag — and eventually give in and carry them down herself. Until the day she didn’t. That day, she took a stand and said, calmly but firmly, that it had to change.
“Why is something so simple so hard for my child?”
When parents come to child therapy in Bucks, they often expect massive emotional outbursts or big behavioural issues to be the main concern. But more often, it’s this: the tiny tasks that feel impossible for a child. Forgetfulness. Time blindness. Difficulty switching attention. Not noticing the mess that’s growing around them.
For this boy, the problem wasn’t defiance. It wasn’t laziness. It was that he genuinely believed he didn’t have time.
Helping him see his time differently
During our child therapy session, we explored motivation and memory strategies. He repeated, quite honestly, “I just don’t have time.”
So we broke it down. Together, we looked at how his time was actually spent — not as a lecture, but as a gentle discovery exercise. Minutes scrolling. Minutes gaming. Minutes chatting. Minutes wandering.
He was fascinated. He’d never seen his day in this way before.
By the end of the session, he suddenly understood that he did have time — he just wasn’t recognising it.
The anxious wait: “Would this stick?”
I’ll admit it — before the next session, I waited with genuine trepidation children with You never know what will land, what will fade, and what will be rejected the moment they walk out the door. Even in child therapy, breakthroughs can be delicate things.
But he surprised us.
A surprising shift that meant everything
When they returned, mum smiled. He had decided he was now going to eat downstairs of instead of his room! He was more aware, more intentional, and more connected to the idea of responsibility. For a child with multiple neurodivergent needs, this was a huge step.
If you’re in Bucks and your child also struggles with these everyday tasks because of ADHD-related challenges, you don’t have to figure it out alone. Support through child therapy can make these small moments easier for everyone at home.
What happens if nothing changes?
When these small daily tasks stay stuck, the impact grows:
• Parents become resentful.
• Children feel nagged, criticised, and misunderstood.
• Independence stalls.
• Home tension rises.
Why early support matters
Even a small behaviour shift can grow into long-term independence — and that’s one of the most meaningful parts of child therapy. In Bucks, I meet so many children who just need guidance that makes sense to their brains, not ours.
If you’re noticing these patterns at home and want support that truly understands ADHD-related challenges, get in touch. These breakthroughs are possible — and they often begin with something as small as a single plate.
________________________________________
Written by: Ian Davies
Email: iandacies36@btinternet.com
Phone: 07964 976711
Website: www.aylesburytherapyforkids.co.uk

01/12/2025

Kindness helps others, brings us together and boosts wellbeing. So let's use our kindness superpowers to spread some joy this December.
Print this out and stick on the fridge door, choose a colour or do them all...

28/11/2025

When Saying ‘No’ Leads to Meltdowns: How One Aylesbury Family Found Calm Again
When a child’s anger turns into full-blown meltdowns, the whole family starts living on edge. For many parents in Aylesbury, it begins with something as simple as saying “no” — and suddenly the atmosphere shifts. Voices rise, objects get thrown, and the child lashes out with language or aggression that feels completely out of character. When gaming is involved, these meltdowns can escalate even faster, leaving parents feeling lost, frightened, or unsure how to respond.
One mum in Aylesbury described tiptoeing around her son — a big lad with strong reactions — because she feared the next explosion. This is far more common than parents realise, and it’s exactly why many families seek children’s coaching to help restore calm and connection at home.
________________________________________
“Why does my child explode when I say no?”
A meltdown isn’t usually about the word “no”. It’s about overwhelm. A child in the middle of gaming is deeply absorbed, disconnected from the real world, and caught in a fast-paced, high-intensity environment. Being interrupted can feel like hitting a brick wall at full speed.
During our children’s coaching work in Aylesbury, I introduced a simple but powerful truth:
We are in charge of our emotions — and we can choose how we react to a trigger.
This was a new idea for the young person, but it became the foundation of everything that followed.
________________________________________
The tool that changed everything: “Help Me Calm Down”
To support this new learning, we introduced a structured prompt sheet called Help Me Calm Down. The goal wasn’t to lecture or punish — it was to guide the young person back into communication and emotional regulation during those intense meltdowns.
As expected, the first attempt didn’t go well. The child didn’t answer properly, rushed the questions, and pushed back against the process. I had already prepared the parents for this, and they calmly tried again.
Slowly, something shifted.
The young person realised:
“When I’m angry, someone will help me — not punish me.”
This was a major emotional turning point. The parents now had a practical tool, and the child had a safe pathway out of overwhelm.
If you’re facing similar challenges at home, children’s coaching in Aylesbury can give you tools that genuinely reduce the intensity and frequency of meltdowns.
________________________________________
What changed after using the prompt sheet?
With consistency, the atmosphere at home softened.
The child began pausing long enough to use the sheet.
He felt supported — not judged — and started taking responsibility for how he handled anger.
Gaming still triggered frustration at times, but the meltdowns reduced in length and severity. He also began absorbing the idea that gaming removes him from real-world learning and that emotional skills need real-life practice.
This is the kind of progress children’s coaching is designed for: step-by-step, sustainable emotional growth.
________________________________________
What would have happened if nothing changed?
Left unaddressed, these meltdowns would almost certainly have intensified.
As the young person grew physically stronger, the risks would have grown too. Mum was already walking on eggshells around him — a sign that the dynamic was sliding toward fear-based parenting.
Without support, this could have led to:
• deeply embedded anger habits
• reduced confidence and self-control
• damaged family relationships
• escalating aggression
• school or friendship difficulties
• increased dependency on gaming as an escape
This is why early intervention through children’s coaching matters so much for families in Aylesbury.
________________________________________
It wasn’t a perfect journey — and that’s normal
Progress is rarely smooth. This family faced:
• resistance to the prompt sheet at first
• questions answered half-heartedly
• ongoing issues around gaming, though reduced
But these challenges didn’t stop progress. They simply became part of the learning process — and with support, the family stayed consistent enough for change to take hold.
________________________________________
If your child is having meltdowns, the time to act is now
You don’t have to wait for things to get worse.
You don’t have to live in fear of your child’s reactions.
And you certainly don’t have to figure everything out alone.
If your child is struggling with meltdowns, emotional overwhelm, or anger outbursts, children’s coaching in Aylesbury can help you build calmer routines, healthier communication, and stronger emotional skills that last.
________________________________________
Written by: Ian Davies
Email: iandavies36@btinternet.com
Phone: 07964 976711
Website: www.aylesburytherapyforkids.co.uk

21/11/2025

Why Building Rapport Is the First Step to Easing Separation Anxiety in Aylesbury Children

Most parents in Aylesbury who come to me for support with their child’s separation anxiety tell me the same thing:
“We’ve tried everything, but nothing actually helps.”
What they don’t realise is that before any technique, strategy, or structured plan can work, one thing has to come first — rapport. In child therapy, rapport isn’t just helpful. It’s the foundation that makes every other step possible.

“Why won’t my child let me go?”

When this young person first came to see me for child therapy in Aylesbury, Mum couldn’t go to the loo alone. She couldn’t pop out for a coffee with a friend. She couldn’t even walk to another room without him becoming distressed. Separation anxiety had taken over both of their lives, leaving Mum mentally exhausted and the child overwhelmed by fear.

Parents often feel alone when this happens.
You’re not. Many families in Aylesbury struggle silently with the exact same experience.

How rapport makes separation feel less frightening

Children with separation anxiety don’t respond well to pressure or reassurance that “everything is fine.” What they need is a genuine connection that tells them:
“You are safe with me, and I understand you.”

That’s why rapport was my first priority in child therapy.

To build rapport, I used gentle humour, talked about gaming — his favourite topic — mirrored his body language, and matched his natural speaking pace. These small adjustments told his nervous system:
“You’re understood here.”

Once rapport took hold, the anxiety softened. He didn’t feel pushed. He didn’t feel judged. He felt connected.

This is the doorway through which all progress flows.

If you’re a parent in Aylesbury wondering whether rapport really makes a difference, it does — more than any other tool in child therapy when working with separation anxiety.

Taking tiny steps toward independence

With rapport in place, we could finally move forward.

We didn’t begin with big separations. We started with simple, confidence-building tasks inside the home:

“Could you run upstairs and grab Mum’s magazine?”

“I’m just popping to the car — you can watch me from the window if you want.”

These steps weren’t about distance.
They were about belief — helping him believe that he could manage a few moments without needing Mum right beside him.

We also partnered with school staff in Aylesbury, who gently coaxed him in each morning, making the transition far less traumatic.

If you live in Aylesbury and your child’s separation anxiety is beginning to limit everyday life, early support through child therapy can make these first steps much easier.

What would have happened without help?

If nothing had changed, his separation anxiety would have deepened. As he grew older, the fear would have become more entrenched, making school, friendships, and everyday independence increasingly difficult. Mum’s world would have continued to shrink too.

Separation anxiety doesn’t usually disappear on its own — without support, it often expands.

Real progress includes setbacks

Not every session was easy. There were days he struggled to focus for long. Sometimes we had to pause structured work and switch to games just to maintain connection. Some days felt like we were going backwards.

This is normal.

Rapport doesn’t prevent setbacks — it helps us recover from them. It allows child therapy to stay compassionate, flexible, and supportive on the hardest days.

If you’re finding that your child has “up and down days,” it doesn’t mean the process isn’t working. It means your child is human.

If you’re in Aylesbury and your child is struggling with separation anxiety…

You don’t have to handle this alone. With the right rapport-based approach, things can change more quickly than you might expect. Child therapy offers structured support, emotional safety, and a gentle pathway back to confidence — for both you and your child.

Written by: Ian Davies
Email: iandavies36@btinternet.com

Phone: 07964 976711
Website: www.aylesburytherapyforkids.co.uk

31/10/2025

Trying something new helps us grow. Fresh activities bring joy and confidence – and can often help us see challenges in a different light.

Print this off...stick it on the fridge, choose a colour or do them all...have fun

07/10/2025

Another great testimonial from a grateful mother...
You’ve helped ###x so much over the past year I can’t thank you enough

01/10/2025

In times of uncertainty, optimism becomes even more important. We can't control what happens, but we can choose to stay hopeful and take positive action. Join us for Optimistic October!

01/09/2025

Self-care isn’t selfish - it’s the foundation that helps us show up with more energy, kindness and resilience for the people and causes we care about.
Just print this out on put it on the kithen, bedroom door...go for it!

01/08/2025

In a world that feels divided, kindness is a quiet but powerful act of hope. Whether you're supporting a friend, helping a stranger, or simply listening with care, your actions matter. Every kind choice makes a difference.

Print this out, hang up on the cloakroom door, a kitchen cupboard, your bedroom mirro. Choose a colur or do them all...have fun...and feel kinder!

01/07/2025

Resilience doesn’t mean pretending everything is fine. It means facing life’s ups and downs with courage and hope. Even when things are uncertain, we can still find ways forward - one day at a time.

19/06/2025

In the middle of the pandemic, I got myself (Gemma) banned from Facebook and Instagram.

Yes, you read that correctly.

Someone reported the NLP4Kids account as being run by someone under the age of 13 (I do look young for my age! ) and overnight, I lost access to everything - my business pages, my advertising controls, even the ability to post content.

At the time, it was a disaster. But with hindsight, it was one of the most important lessons I could have learned - not just for me, but for how we help our children navigate the hypnotic pull of social media.
When Social Media Becomes an Unseen Addiction
Initially, I fought tooth and nail to get my accounts back. I spent weeks chasing invisible Facebook staff (their customer service is famously horrendous even in normal times, let alone during a pandemic). Meanwhile, I noticed something troubling happening.

Every time I picked up my phone, my thumb instinctively hovered over the Facebook app, even though I knew I was banned. It wasn't about checking if I could log in. It was pure, mindless habit. The muscle memory of opening that app had embedded itself deep into my brain.

In the early days, the sense of loss and disappointment was real. I missed the connection, the distraction, the hit of dopamine. But as the weeks rolled on, something miraculous happened - the spell was broken. When I finally regained access, I didn’t even care anymore. Facebook became a tool for business, nothing more.

"Breaking free from the spell of social media doesn’t happen through willpower alone - it happens through a massive, unavoidable interruption."
Why Your Child Needs a Disruption - Not a Lecture
If you’re noticing that your child is glued to their screen, waiting for likes, comments or DMs, you’re not imagining it - social media platforms are designed to keep them there. Their brains are being trained to seek validation, to crave updates and to feel anxious when disconnected.

And here’s the painful truth: talking about it won’t be enough. You need a significant disruption to their routine.

Start by modelling the behaviour you want to see. Set strict personal rules - no scrolling during family time, using the phone only for specific tasks, switching it off after work hours.

Children notice hypocrisy a mile away, so if you want them to cut down their screen time, you’ll need to lead the way.

Provide real-world experiences that feel richer and more fulfilling than the digital ones. Plan adventures, even simple ones like nature walks, scavenger hunts or gardening projects.

These don’t have to cost money - the point is to reconnect with the physical world.
“We cannot expect children to voluntarily leave behind a dopamine-driven fantasy world unless we offer them something better in real life.”

How This Links to Building Emotional Strength - And a Life Beyond Screens
At NLP4Kids, our mission is to help children become resilient, self-aware and strong. That’s why our coaching franchise isn’t just about delivering sessions - it’s about being a role model. Our coaching franchise practitioners understand that mental health isn’t something you fix in an appointment - it’s something you nurture every day.

The same philosophy applies here. Helping children disconnect from social media is part of their emotional growth. Yes, there will be tears, tantrums and FOMO (fear of missing out). But, just like toilet training, learning to walk, or learning to ride a bike, discomfort is part of development.

The more we resist their complaints and stay committed, the stronger and healthier they will become - both online and offline.
If you’re passionate about helping children thrive in a chaotic digital world, consider joining our coaching franchise. You’ll gain the skills, support and tools to make a lasting difference not just for others, but for yourself too.
Final Thoughts - Teach Them to Reclaim Their Time
Freedom from social media addiction isn’t just possible - it’s a gift you can give your child that will change their life forever.

Show them there is a better way to live, and they will eventually choose it for themselves.
Best wishes
Gemma Bailey
Director at NLP4Kids

12/06/2025

When anxiety first shows up in a child’s life, it’s natural for parents and carers to go into full "rescue mode". We change routines, soften our tones, and loosen our rules, hoping to wrap them in a bubble of safety. But what if, in doing so, we are actually making things worse?

Today, I want to bust a critical myth - the idea that adapting to a child’s anxiety is the kindest thing we can do for them. The truth is much harder to swallow, but far more empowering once you know it.

Why Adapting to Anxiety Is a Dangerous Game
When a young person develops anxiety, every instinct in us says, “Help them! Make it easier!” We change our daily routines, help them get dressed, speak differently, even bend household rules. 🏡

It’s completely understandable - especially when you’re racing against the clock to get them to school and they’re mid-meltdown.

Initially, these adjustments might seem harmless. But if they continue, you’re not just helping your child - you’re helping the anxiety move in, unpack its suitcase and start living rent-free in your home.

Instead of validating the child, we inadvertently validate the anxiety. Every time we bend to accommodate it, we strengthen it. We turn it from an invisible fear into a fully furnished guest room nobody asked for.

🌟 "When you adapt your life around a child’s anxiety, you give it form - you validate the anxiety, not the child." 🌟

The Power of ‘Business as Usual'
As soon as we recognise there’s an anxiety issue, the antidote is simple but bold: carry on as normal. Business as usual.

Why?

Because when your child’s nervous system begins to calm and it will - they need to step back into an environment that is already steady, stable and familiar. If the world around them has twisted itself into knots, they now have two battles to fight: fixing themselves and adapting to a warped reality.

Keeping life ‘normal’ acts as a silent reassurance. It says, “You are okay. The world is okay. This feeling is temporary.” It reduces the power of anxiety without ever having to confront it directly.

Of course, some days will need sensitivity. Some plans will need changing. But starting each day expecting anxiety to show up - and planning your life around it - keeps you stuck in its shadow.

🌟“Expect recovery, not setbacks. Expect normality, not chaos. Expect your child to heal - and give them the space to do so.”🌟

How This Links to Building Resilience - And Why It Matters
You may have noticed that at NLP4Kids, we don't just help young people overcome challenges - we build resilience for life. 🛡️

Resilience comes from not allowing a temporary feeling to dictate permanent change.

This philosophy is the heart of our NLP4Kids coaching franchise model too. Those who join our coaching franchise are equipped not only to deliver these life-changing lessons to children, but to embody them in their own professional lives. When you learn to hold steady in the face of challenge, you show others how to do the same.
If you’re passionate about mental health, about helping young people thrive, and about creating a career that actually matters, our coaching franchise could be the perfect fit for you. It offers flexibility, purpose and the joy of seeing real transformations take place - not just in the children you help, but in yourself too.

The Final Word - Your Calm Is Contagious
Every time you stay steady, every time you expect normality, you chip away at anxiety’s grip. Anxiety cannot survive where it is not fed. 🧠✨

Stay strong. Stay normal. And watch the miracle unfold.

Gemma Bailey

Director at NLP4Kids

Aylesbury Therapy for Kids

02/12/2025

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28/11/2025

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31/10/2025

07/10/2025

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Aylesbury Therapy for Kids