“Coming with a degree of prior knowledge, I attended this session with the intention of wanting to increase my awareness of CPA and to broaden my understanding of how professionals working with families in any capacity can provide support to those experiencing the pain, anguish, and trauma of it.

“The three-hour intensive session covered a breadth of topics including the reasons why CPA occurs, associated risk factors, and the many barriers parents face when seeking help. As well as providing information and initiating discussion and debate, the course also highlighted real-life case studies from parents who had suffered (and continue to suffer) at the hands of their children.

“My five top takeaways from the PEGS session would be:

• The number of families seeking support due to CPA is growing exponentially, with 1,445 parents having accessed PEGS’ services since April 2021 and 22,000 calls to Parentline over a 2-year period. It’s truly shocking to know that so many families are suffering, but hugely positive that the support is out there for them (and that awareness of this is increasing UK-wide)

• Child to Parent Abuse can impact parents, carers and families in so many ways including their emotional wellbeing, mental health, physical health, employment prospects, financial security, family dynamics, and friendships. It can literally be all-encompassing

• The barriers that families experiencing CPA face are widespread – from feelings of guilt, fear of others’ reactions, and isolation, through to unconditional love for their child, not wanting the breakdown of their family, and mistrust of external agencies

• The role of PEGS as an organisation is very much to complement the work of external agencies (including social care, police, and health care) and not compete – with the team dedicated to working alongside all other professionals to ensure (as a priority) the safety and welfare of parent, child, and wider family circle

• The most important words that a professional can say to a parent that comes seeking support from CPA is ‘I believe you’.

Enlightening, informative, and at times desperately heart-breaking, this session was hugely valuable in enhancing my knowledge of CPA and it’s true impact, and I’d absolutely recommend anyone that works with families in a professional capacity to find out more.”