As a Parent or Guardian, you likely have many questions about how Synapse Behavioural Health Coaching operates and the support we can provide for your child. Below, we’ve addressed several frequently asked questions (FAQs). If you have any additional queries or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us at parents@synapsehealth.co.uk. We are here to help and we will do our best to ensure that you have all the information you need.
Synapse Behavioural Health coaching is a unique, personalised, action-oriented approach to mental health support. It is a non-clinical intervention to help children and young people manage their emotions, change unwanted behaviours and enhance their overall mental wellbeing. It combines elements of cognitive psychology with coaching techniques, to empower young people to develop the skills and resilience they need, navigate challenges with increased confidence, and to thrive.
Coaching is not a one-size-fits-all approach. By listening deeply and understanding the individual and their personal challenges, Synapse Behavioural Health Coaches work with their client to help change how their thoughts and feelings influence their behaviour. This collaborative coaching process is guided by each client’s unique personal needs, providing personalised socio-emotional support, help with setting goals, and motivation and constructive feedback. Sessions are regularly reviewed and updated, to make sure the client is getting what they need from the process. Our Coaches approach every young person as an individual, with kindness, compassion and respect.
Most importantly, Synapse Coaches create an environment supportive of positive change.
Using an analogy relevant to every young person we explain the process at Synapse by looking at the human brain as if it were a smartphone. In the same way that a phone needs updating, the brain can benefit from ‘updates’ to thinking patterns and behaviours. Behavioural Health Coaching is like installing these updates; helping the person refine mental processes, fix ‘ bugs’ (unhelpful thoughts and behaviour), and improve performance (overall wellbeing).
Apps = Strategies and Skills.
Our phones have different apps for different needs – social media for connecting with friends, a calendar for scheduling. In Behavioural Health Coaching, you develop various strategies and skills, or mental ‘apps,’ which are chosen based on specific needs and goals. For example, mindfulness for anxiety or time management techniques for better productivity.
Battery Life= Energy and emotional resources.
Your phone’s battery life is limited and needs regular recharging. Similarly the brain’s mental and emotional energy has limits: stress, anxiety, and other factors can drain it. Behavioural coaching teaches us how to manage our mental energy effectively, recognising when to recharge, and applying strategies to prevent burnout and overwhelm.
Settings = Personalised coaching.
Just as a phone’s settings can be customised (eg brightness, sound etc) to suit, our coaching is completely personalised. It is tailored to the client’s unique needs, goals and situation, ensuring that the ‘settings’ are right for that person.
Connectivity and Communication = Support and Guidance.
A phone is vital in keeping young people connected, mostly to each other, but also to the rest of the world. So, a Behavioural Health Coach provides the connection to professional support and guidance. Their role is to listen, offer feedback and assist the client in navigating challenges, ensuring that there is no loss of ‘service.’
GPS and Navigation = Goal Setting and Achievement.
GPS helps us find our way, giving direction to our destinations. Behavioural Health Coaching sets life’s GPS; it helps the person move towards their goals, guiding them to navigate obstacles and to stay on track towards the desired outcomes.
Security Features = Safe Space.
Behavioural Health Coaching provides a secure, confidential space to explore thoughts and feelings, ensuring the client’s emotional ‘data’ is safe and respected, much like the security features on our smartphones
The Synapse Behavioural Health Coaching programme is specifically designed for children, young people and young adults, to support the unique challenges and circumstances they face in their every day lives. Our Coaches work with clients aged 13 - 25.
Behavioural Health Coaching does not serve the same purpose as therapy or a clinical intervention, so the critical step when you get in touch, is for us to arrange a clinical assessment with a psychologist for the young person. This will determine whether coaching is the best option for you, or if there are other mental health services that can provide better support. Synapse works in close partnership with Portobello Behavioural Health, the UK’s leading provider of bespoke mental health services, and we will make referrals to our colleagues there as appropriate.
Behavioural Health Coaching can sometimes be most helpful alongside other forms of mental health support such as therapy, to make sure that clinical treatments are being followed, to help maintain personal schedules, motivation and goals, or to provide a supportive companion on a recovery journey.
Synapse Behavioural Health Coaching is not the right solution if any of the following is true:
Enhanced emotional resilience: Synapse coaches utilise evidence-based techniques to boost emotional management, fostering resilience against stress and anxiety.
Skills for life: Our coaching imparts essential life skills - critical thinking, problem-solving, and emotional intelligence - crucial for personal, academic, and professional success.
Supportive growth environment: Each coaching session promotes independence and confidence, equipping young people to face life's challenges effectively.
Improved behavioural outcomes: Synapse's tailored coaching strategies instil coping mechanisms and healthy behavioural habits, visibly enhancing performance and relationships.
Personalised coaching relationships: Each client is sensitively matched with a coach based on personality, needs and shared experience, ensuring a tailored and effective coaching experience.
Accessibility and flexibility: Synapse's coaching is available both in-person and online, fitting seamlessly into your lifestyle and providing support wherever needed.
Proven techniques: Our coaches employ methods proven to improve mental wellbeing, to understand and manage emotions and behaviours and to build self-esteem and resilience.
1. Get in touch
Complete our brief online intake form, and we’ll get back to you within 12-24 hours. Or give us a call to discuss your needs and our available support options.
2. Get assessed
Having reviewed your needs, we will schedule a video call to talk more about your child’s circumstances and goals. We will then schedule an assessment with a member of our qualified clinical team. If Synapse is not the best approach, we will make referrals to our team of clinical experts.
3. Get matched
Based on the clinical assessment, Synapse will assign you a Care Manager, who will coordinate the care programme. They will guide support you throughout your time with Synapse, from admission, to aftercare planning. Then, your child will be ready to be paired with their behavioural coach.
4. Get started
The Synapse programme is usually structured in blocks of 10 hour-long sessions, held over the course of 8 weeks, but we adapt the programme to suit the needs of each individual. Sessions are usually a mix of in-person and online meetings, but again, this will depend on specific circumstances. Get in touch with us, and we’ll work out the best programme.
5. Get going
We want you and your child to be prepared for sustainable healing from the start, which is why aftercare planning begins during admission. We work closely with your child, your family and together with our partners to make sure that the best and most appropriate tools and resources are available to step down to lower levels of care and build healthy, fulfilling lives.
We are adamant that cost should not be a barrier to mental health support; we have some financing options available, and are constantly working to find more - talk to us and we will do our best to find a solution.
We offer a fully customised service depending on the needs of the young person. Please speak to one of our Care Managers to find the coaching package which is right for you. We will do our utmost to ensure our coaching services do not interrupt schooling or other activities.
Our coaching sessions are flexible to suit the needs of the client. A combination of face to face and online appointments can be offered depending on circumstance. The face to face sessions will be at a venue decided by the client.
Synapse are very happy to liaise with schools to find the right time and place for young people to access services to fit in with their busy timetables. We will need your consent to do this.
Timings for each client are individual however online sessions may last up to 1 hour and face to face up to 2 hours
Yes. Synapse provides Coaches and services for children from 13 years to 25 years.
It is important to gather information from both you and your child. This happens as part of our non-clinical triage process through our Care Managers. We sometimes do this all together but at other times it is helpful to talk to parents and/or children separately. We will talk to you about what you think might work best for your child.
We understand that everyone needs a safe space to share thoughts and feelings, and at Synapse, our Coaches provide a confidential and supportive environment where your child can express themselves freely and safely. Your dedicated Care Manager will keep you regularly updated on your child’s progress and you will be invited to a review in Week 4 and 8 of the coaching package.
Your child’s privacy is paramount to us, and their coaching sessions will remain confidential. Protocols are in place to ensure your child’s safety and the wellbeing of others. However, it's important to know that there are specific situations where the coach and Care Manager are legally required to share information with parents, guardians and/or other agencies. These include:
Absolutely yes. Please speak to one of our Care Managers who will discuss the appropriate options with you.
If you have any additional queries or concerns, please don't hesitate to contact us at parents@synapsehealth.co.uk. We're here to help and ensure you have all the information you need.
