Introduction to our Psychology team:
At Red Frog for Families, psychology is grounded in a simple but powerful belief: children grow, heal and thrive in safe, supportive and deeply attuned relationships.
Led by Chelle Houghton, Head of Clinical Development, our psychology service reflects decades of collective expertise in child development, trauma-informed practice and neuroaffirming care. Chelle is widely respected across the child and family sector for her ability to bring warmth, clarity and grounded leadership to complex developmental and relational work.
We sat down with Chelle to explore what makes psychology at Red Frog for Families distinctive.
What underpins the psychology approach here?
“Psychology at Red Frog for Families is about deepening what we already value,” Chelle explains. “Emotional wellbeing, nervous system regulation, behaviour support and family relationships are not add-ons, they are foundational.”
Rather than focusing solely on behaviours or diagnoses, the team looks at the whole child within the context of their relationships, developmental history, nervous system functioning and lived experience.
“Our work centres on understanding what sits beneath behaviour,” Chelle says. “When we understand the ‘why,’ meaningful and sustainable change becomes possible.”
What can families expect:
“Families can expect a warm, relational and child-centred space where connection comes first,” Chelle shares.
Sessions are guided by curiosity and attunement. For children, this may include:
- Play-based exploration
- Storytelling and creative expression
- Building emotional literacy
- Noticing body cues and regulation together
- Practising co-regulation in real time
“There’s no pressure for children to behave a certain way,” Chelle explains. “We meet them exactly where they are.”
For parents, the experience is collaborative and transparent.“ I share my thinking openly,” she says. “Families understand the reasoning behind strategies and feel empowered to carry that understanding into everyday life.” This combination of relational depth and clinical clarity is central to our approach.
What sets Red Frog for Families apart from other clinics?
Chelle believes what set us apart can be defined by 3 key elements:
- A Deeply Relational Philosophy
“Our approach prioritises connection over compliance, regulation over behaviour management and understanding over quick fixes.”
The team recognises that:
- Behaviour is communication
- The nervous system leads the way
- Trauma impacts development, not character
- Neurodivergence is a valid and valued identity
- Parents are the most powerful agents of change
This means the work is steady, intentional and respectful. participants are not rushed. Differences are not pathologised. Growth is scaffolded in ways that feel safe.
- True Transdisciplinary Integration
At Red Frog for Families, psychology does not operate in isolation.
Therapies are integrated, responsive and guided by the child’s developmental story, cultural identity, nervous system needs and family goals. Psychology works alongside occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy and behaviour support to ensure that emotional regulation and relational safety underpin skill development.
“Participants don’t experience their world in silos,” Chelle says. “Their regulation, communication, sensory needs, relationships and learning are interconnected. Our model reflects that reality.”
This prevents fragmentation and supports families to feel held within a cohesive team.
- Leadership and Clinical Expertise
Under Chelle’s leadership, the psychology team is grounded in reflective supervision, relational leadership and ongoing professional development.
The service draws on extensive expertise in:
- Trauma-informed practice
- Neuroaffirming approaches
- Infant and early childhood mental health
- Complex developmental presentations
- Family systems and relational repair
This ensures that care is both compassionate and clinically rigorous.
Who is psychology for? Psychology at Red Frog for Families supports children and families navigating:
- Emotional or behavioural dysregulation
- Anxiety, worry or overwhelm
- Attention or sensory differences
- Relationship challenges
- Identity development
- Grief or loss
- Family stress
- Developmental uncertainty
It is also invaluable for parents seeking greater confidence, understanding and practical strategies grounded in connection and co-regulation.
The heart of our work: The psychology team is guided by values of authenticity, curiosity, respect, attunement, safety, transparency and hope. These are not aspirational statements they are woven through every interaction.
“Our aim,” Chelle reflects, “is for children to feel safe to be themselves and for families to feel supported, empowered and never alone.
