Testimonials
‘Dr Alice Loving has undertaken mentalization-based parenting work for my local authority with two families. Both families had longstanding social care involvement with no sustained change in the outcomes for the children and family. There was a significant risk of the children becoming looked after. The parenting intervention work that Alice undertakes using mentalization and attachment principles was identified as a much-needed approach and able to build on strengths within the parents, whilst recognizing their own trauma and make a difference. In both families the children have remained safely within the home and avoided care outcomes. I would like to highlight the second family. This family had been known to children’s services for all the children’s life and indeed older adult siblings had been removed from the mother’s care. Both parents within this family had experienced trauma and impact on their own childhood development alongside learning disabilities and neurodiversity.
Alice was able to immediately identify key areas of need within the mother that had not been recognized in previous interventions. The work she has undertaken has made a significant difference and indeed has enabled the children to remain at home, whilst the parents grew in understanding and confidence, forming the emotional connection and attachment to the children.
The Local Authority were in care proceedings with this family and at the final hearing the judge has praised this innovative work that has made a difference where others have not over several years’.
Head of Service
‘I was really surprised by how helpful I found this work for me and my daughter. Alice really listened to me and helped me to make the changes that I needed to. I think all social workers should try to use this method more within their work.’
Parent
‘When I was first referred to Dr Loving I was feeling anxious and thought, ‘it’s just another professional that is going to be judging me on how to parent my children’. However, I was pleasantly surprised, Alice is a wonderful lady, who is also a mother and understands how difficult parenthood can be. I was nervous to do the videos, in case I said or did the wrong things, but there was never any judgement from her. I can say with all honesty that working with Dr Loving has been wonderful. She has given me so much insight and techniques that were so simple and easy to do in everyday life. I am incredibly grateful for the help I got, and really recommend this work for parents.’
Parent
‘I commissioned Alice to do some work with a mother in regards to her empathy/ mentalisation of her daughter. Alice was responsive, professional and experienced throughout. The family feedback was very positive, Alice built a good relationship with them, as well as with the SW and manager. Alice has the knowledge and skill in delivering the intervention and support necessary to affect real change. Due in part to the work Alice undertook with the family, we were able to prevent the child from coming into care.’
Social Work Manager
‘Feedback from the family was really positive, Alice’s contribution to this case prevented the need to remove this child, so thanks so much for such a great and effective delivery’.
Social Worker
‘Nothing short of life changing. Before I found it difficult to be around my son, I found it hard to look at him never mind play and be the parent he needed me to be. Our relationship had completely broken down. I could not see a way out of where we were. Then Alice came along and changed our life, the real life Mary Poppins. My relationship with my son is just incredible now, never thought I would be able to have that with him after everything’.
Mother of two
‘I had the pleasure of working with Alice for a year, and I couldn’t have felt more supported. She never criticised me, only spent time building me up and at every difficult turn she was there. She spent months finding new ways to show me what attachment actually meant with my child and for that I thank her’.
Parent