Meningitis Now is working with Changing Minds Child and Family Services (CMCAFS) to deliver a series of group sessions for families impacted by meningitis. Sessions are aimed at parents and carers living with and supporting a child post-meningitis. The course will cover the following topics:
- Understanding the impact of medical trauma on children and their caregivers
- Developing strategies for self-compassion and improving psychological wellbeing
We also hope that the course will provide a safe, supportive space for sharing experiences and building connections with others.
Sessions will be delivered by HCPC registered clinical psychologists from CMCAFS, with experience of working with people with complex medical needs and the systems around them. Sessions will be facilitated by:
Dr Lou Enright
Lou is a Senior Clinical Psychologist who has been qualified since 2010. She joined CMCAFS in 2022 and brings many years of experience supporting children, young people, and their families. Before joining the team, Lou worked in a range of services, including Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), learning disability CAMHS, paediatrics, and the voluntary sector. Much of her work has focused on supporting children with disabilities or neurodevelopmental needs and helping the people and systems around them understand how best to support their wellbeing.
Lou now leads the neurodevelopmental service within CMCAFS. In this role, she works closely with professionals across children’s services, as well as directly with children and their families. Her work involves helping people build a clear understanding of children and young people’s needs, and supporting carers so everyone can work together in the best way.
Dr Megan Hawkes
Meg is a HCPC registered clinical psychologist who qualified with her doctorate in clinical psychology in 2023 and joined CMCAFS the same year. Meg has a special interest in neuropsychology, neurodevelopment, and physical health. With many years of experience working with individuals facing life-changing conditions such as stroke and brain injury, Meg enjoys bringing this knowledge to her practice by applying theories around brain development and support around cognition to her work with children and families.
Meg draws on a range of psychological models in her work but has a particular interest in compassion-focused therapy and how compassionate approaches can support adjustment to traumatic experiences and/or life-changing conditions.
Natalia Laverty-Baralle
Natalia is a Trainee Clinical Psychologist who is nearing the completion of her training. She has experience supporting young people and their families within mental health services, as well as working with adults in healthcare and learning disability settings.
She is particularly interested in health psychology and systemic approaches, and in understanding how people’s relationships, environments, and wider systems shape wellbeing. In her work, she values compassion, collaboration, and creating supportive spaces where people can feel heard, understood, and connected to others.
You can read more about the team here.
The course will run in 2 x 4-week blocks:
The first four sessions (in June) will focus on understanding medical trauma and the impact on children, caregivers and families. Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) will be introduced as a model to understand the psychological and physiological impact of trauma.
Follow-up group sessions (in Sept) will focus on using Compassion Focused Therapy (CFT) to build emotional understanding, wellbeing and self-care skills.
The sessions will run from 1-2.30 pm.
Block 1
- 4th June
- 11th June
- 18th June
- 25th June
Block 2
- 10th September
- 17th September
- 24th September
- 1st October
Terms & Conditions for these Online sessions
Please register your interest using the form below: