Have you ever been sitting with a young person in session while their parent waits outside, unsure how much to involve them and quietly worrying about saying the wrong thing?

Working with parents alongside young people can feel daunting. Consent, confidentiality, boundaries, imposter syndrome, emotional parents and limited time can all make it feel safer to avoid parents altogether.Avoiding bringing families into the room missed crucial information and support for the young person . It can also leave families feeling excluded and unsure of how to help.

In this episode, originally recorded for the Mental Work podcast with Dr Bronwyn Milkins, I talk about how to confidently and ethically include parents in therapeutic work with young people. This is not about full family therapy. It is about thoughtful collaboration that supports the work rather than complicates it.

If you work with young people and feel unsure about how to manage parents, this episode offers reassurance, practical ideas, and a reminder that you do not need to do this perfectly to do it well.

In this episode, I talk about

• Why involving parents often feels overwhelming for clinicians

• Common fears early career practitioners have when working with families

• How to set clear boundaries around confidentiality and expectations

• Practical ways to include parents without overwhelming the work

• Shifting from fixing to holding space when emotions run high

• How collaboration with families can strengthen outcomes for young people

Contact Dr Bronwyn Milkins @ mentalworkpodcast@gmail.com

Resources:

1. Mental Work Podcast

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