Adoption UK’s Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) offers online trauma-informed therapeutic support for adoptive families across the UK. Delivered by psychologists, therapists and peer experts-by-experience, this gives PATH a unique blend of theoretical, clinical and peer support.

Services include assessments, packages of support and bespoke needs-led services. Our team draw from a range of approaches including psychological therapies, therapeutic parenting, non-violent resistance, DDP, therapeutic life story work, attachment and trauma-informed frameworks and sensory integration.

 

---

Our services

 

PATHways progamme (previously known as TESSA)

PATHways is an intervention programme that helps adoptive parents achieve better outcomes for their children by giving them early access to a clinical psychologist and peer support. It is based on the understanding that a child’s relationship with his or her parents or carers is one of the main keys to their development, and is founded on the principle of helping families, not fixing children. The PATHways programme consists of three pillars: a parent consultation, regular peer support and a parent reflective group.

Find out more

 

Early PATHways programme

Early PATHways is a specialist Psychology-led therapeutic intervention incorporating clinical expertise alongside significant support from peer support partners with lived experience. It has been designed to support families identified at placement or early into their placement as requiring additional therapeutic parenting support. The programme helps parents create an environment for adopted children to thrive by teaching and guiding families into creating conditions for healthy development and family wellbeing.

Find out more

 

Assessment of Therapeutic Need

For families and professionals who may feel ‘stuck’ with how best to move forward to meeting the needs of the family, the Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) team can offer parents a psychological and trauma informed assessment alongside tailored therapeutic support.

Find out more

 

Bespoke Individual Pathways

Delivered by a trained and experienced psychologist or psychotherapist, we would discuss the individual needs of the family with the referrer and agree an intervention based on our shared understanding and initial formulation.

Find out more

 

We are currently developing further PATHway services to address the challenges faced by adoptive families…

 

“I don’t know where I would be without the service. This has meant the world to us and I now know what to do. You have no idea how much this has meant to us, it has changed our lives. Other adoption support we have been offered have been nothing compared to this.”

 

PATH aims for positive outcome for parents and families

• A clearer understanding of their child's presentation and needs, including strengths and areas for development
• A better confidence and understanding in using therapeutic parenting approaches and the reasons for this
• The ability to reflect on and appreciate their own strengths and needs as a parent, and within the family
• A positive experience of collaborative working with professionals
• Increased opportunities for enjoyment within family life
• Clear advice and guidance about the next steps for them and their family

 

All our services are delivered online. This means that the Psychology and Therapy Hub (PATH) services can be accessed wherever you are and you don’t have the concern around arranging child care to cover not only meeting time but travel time. All you need is a reliable internet connection.

Although we know some people prefer to meet with people face-to-face we have evidence from our work delivering TESSA (now PATHways) that meaningful relationships can be developed and impactful support can be delivered online.

From TESSA Pilot Evaluation (University of Strathclyde, 2021):

“There is a commonly held belief that face-to-face contact is necessary for relationships to flourish. While this may be the case for some individuals, TESSA has demonstrated that this is not a universal truth. The degree of intimacy that has developed between adopters and TESSA personnel without any face-to-face meetings is to be commended.”

  

Back to top