Young Vibes/Satsie Thomas. New company set up by the same people as Your Child Freedom Formula and Peaky Parents

[Hols12345]

Hello, if you're looking for information on youngvibes.co.uk child anxiety program, they are the same people as YCFF and Peaky Parents. They've set up under a new name.

See previous thread for discussion:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/child_adolescent_mental_health/4352676-Peaky-Parents-Kactus-Kids-formerly-known-as-Your-Child-Freedom-Programme-YCFF-and-other-previous-names-Child-anxiety-programme

I get that, it just makes her seem ridiculous. And so much less plausible. It makes the whole thing seem so much less stable if she’s constantly running from her reputation.

Yes- you are all correct in what you say. The concept of trying to get rid of anxiety is sound but the delivery and ways to try and find clients is completely off. I've been self employed for 20 years so I understand the need to market and get new clients, without which a business fails. They initially got solid coaching and advice on how to achieve a great business through an ethical service delivery but that changed when ironically, their own anxieties caused sudden flight/fight responses. This resulted in some ridiculous marketing decisions that then cascaded into less and less clients...which then raised their anxiety again....and around in circles it went. We tried to get them to see what was happening but they wouldn't listen, and so it is in the state it is now. People are leaving left and right, and as nothing has changed in their mindset for over a year I cannot be confident in saying any new family will get their results they expect.

@staffinsider I wonder how many have been successful in getting a refund? They sold themselves as a 'lifelong' support for us but we're quick to shut us out when we questioned things.

I can 100% see Sam's anxiety. She is selling a recovery programme that hasn't 'recovered' her, and as far as I know she has never had to recover her own child. A totally different kettle of fish to self-help.

Yes @3xteens thats it completely. Unless you’ve been in a similar position you’ll never understand. What she does understand it seems, is the total desperation and vulnerability that comes alongside that as parents. And this is used to her advantage.

That might be difference with a qualified counselling professional - they have to work through their ‘own stuff’ before they’re allowed to work with the public. So slowly building-up a client-base through reputation isn’t an issue.

It must have been such a shame for you @staffinsider when you realised that the service wasn’t as good as you’d hoped. I’ve worked in places before where I’ve gone in all optimistic about making a difference and then the organisation turns out to be not what I’d hoped. It’s so disheartening

You just don't know the truth of it @LittleSnakes !!! I had set my heart and financial future on being able to earn my income with full knowledge I was helping people and thought that would be it until I retire😥Its now been 4 months and only just now have a found another company to work with who have solid integrity and a track record to prove it😊

@staffinsider I’m so pleased you found something else. Thanks for coming on to this thread as well. We’ve all been plugging away at this for so long now. Years maybe? I can’t remember when the first thread was. It was only a fluke that a mum started it to ask if anyone else has tried it and then we all started investigating it. Got lots of pretend parents on saying it was amazing but it was clear it was Sam and her husband and I got some of the posters deleted.

So from the very beginning there was a lack of integrity, even when we were still unsure about how it all worked. I could never trust a someone who so blatantly lies all the time and is mean to people who disagree with her. Even if the programme had actually been amazing, her lying and calling names would put me right off.

I'm so glad I found this post. This programme was advertised in my Instagram feed today, I watched some of the video testimonials and thought, wow will this help. I'm on so many waiting lists for counselling for my DD and desperate for help. Thought I'd google Young Vibes to see what the feedback was, and this thread was the first thing to pop up. So you've effectively saved me £900 and potential damage to my daughter, who's autism is not a figment of my imagination!

Glad you found it before you took that step 😰 I’d suggest reaching out to local support via the place network at Charlie waller place network Click here for place network

@WhatsitWiggle it's because we were waiting so long are desperate that we ended up buying into this programme. And at the time a LOT more than £900 sadly. Well done for doing your research, we didn't! My suggestion is to avoid if you have any diagnosis other than anxiety.

I'm so glad @WhatsitWiggle that this thread has proved useful to you.

I've been meaning to share this (see below) for a while and your post has prompted me to finally do it.

A bit of background: my son (now 15) became very anxious aged 7, rising 8. With hindsight, lots of things had triggered a sudden rise in anxiety, but it had its roots in developmental issues, which long term therapy has massively helped with. Tbh I'm not sure it's that frequent that a child suffers with anxiety without any other underlying issues, diagnoses, traumas etc. Maybe it happens, but I would be extremely nervous of using any mental health provider who doesn't have a sound training in child development and mental health more generally - as how else can someone see what they aren't qualified to help with. I will be eternally grateful that we found someone with this, as I can really imagine what sort of pickle we might be in now otherwise.

Anyway, when I came across Young Vibes (now also marketing as Satsie Thomas and a whole host of other things) and was really worried by their sales tactics and what I later learned of their reputation, I asked the therapist we worked with whether she could offer any signposts to reputable therapists, organisations etc who could offer genuine professional expertise to people in need, who were looking into private help. She gave me a long list, which I share below, in the hope that it may help others.

I know it's a lot to look through and it is such a maze for worried parents. I'm now starting to explore a career in this field (v. very early days, just studying for a Masters as a start so far) and I can say I can see that there is a plethora of approaches which can help families, but its really important to match the help to the family, and above all, for the help to be professional, experienced, well-qualified, very well informed, compassionate, appropriately regulated and in it for the right reasons (to help families, not make money). I completely agree with the post above about how good therapists don't need to advertise or market themselves. Their work speaks for itself, and they are not in it to make money out of desperate families.

Anyway, here is the list. Some of them are more local organisations/therapists (from the Northern Home Counties) but I've left them there as sometimes people work remotely and also I have found that individual therapists/practices can have useful information on their websites. Also, some of the resources seem to lean towards helping fostered/adopted children. If this isn't you, this doesn't mean it couldn't be relevant - certainly my experience was that attachment-based/relational therapy approaches which are more common in adoption (which isn't our situation) were extremely helpful to us. I hope the list is of help to some. Sorry for the very long post!

www.phoenixplaytherapy.com

www.duntoncentre.co.uk/

cjtherapies.co.uk/services

www.familyaffect.co.uk/

www.familiesempowered.co.uk/who-we-are

laurieseiler.co.uk/childservices.html (therapists comment: I wouldn’t usually recommend CBT but this man’s approach is very integrative - did some training with him)

theowltherapycentre.co.uk/ (national organisation with local therapists, have found them excellent. My advice is for parents to call them and discuss requirements)

UK networks:
www.wp.theraplay.org/uk/

ddpnetwork.org/uk/

www.naotp.com/

www.fabparents.co.uk/

www.themix.org.uk/ (Reputable online counselling for children and young adults, also has lots of links to additional resources and support)

www.youngminds.org.uk/

Online courses:
fosteringattachments.learnupon.com/store

Website that provides resources and direct advice:

childtherapyservice.org.uk/

Excellent article with lots of links about ASD and trauma:

www.barrierstoeducation.co.uk/autism-and-trauma

beaconhouse.org.uk/resources/

Helpful book:

www.amazon.co.uk/Z-Therapeutic-Parenting-Strategies-Solutions/dp/1785923765/ref=asc_df_1785923765/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=310831412334&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3053543848109845885&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1007041&hvtargid=pla-490129429425&psc=1&th=1&psc=1

www.safehandsthinkingminds.co.uk/links-websites-and-podcasts/

We have been on the programme. Sam shouted at my husband accusing him of being 'scary' the only person who was being scary was her losing her temper at him. She was brainwashing my son into believing his issues were our fault, and w
as overheard by my son calling his dad 'an asshole'. Unbelievable! Everything being said about being unethical and manipulative we have had first hand experience of. I have asked for evidence of qualifications and thier safeguarding policy, still not received! And then low and behold I get a phone call telling me that they are folding now. Most likely not true, just changing names again!!

@Chuppy222 wow! So bad but very believable unfortunately. The recent FB adds are for a discounted price of £29 but no idea what you'd get. We paid £000's and got nowhere as "autism doesn't exist" 🙄😡Really sorry to hear that you son heard that. The way they go at things is to break us down as parents, make us more vulnerable then teach us their way. They are also dealing with vulnerable children in a 'one way fixes all' way. Are they refunding you if they are folding?

That’s awful that she shouted at your husband. That must have been horrible.

@3xteens @LittleSnakes we were paying weekly. We have stopped all payments. The programme is a not a ‘magic’ formula. It’s CBT plus emotional regulated parenting. Which does work, when only typically delivered by qualified regulated therapists who actually know how to assess and take a history, and that have no gaping gaps in their knowledge about child development! I can see how this programme can work for some people, however for those with more complex needs, a one size fits all with no initial assessment is just downright dangerous!

It all sounds very difficult to realise that it’s not what you hoped it was. I wonder if they’ll try to rebrand again? Their latest accounts don’t look too healthy. Although I’m not sure if that is normal for a new business.

@Chuppy222 As a real customer paying weekly, you my like to add your views to their trustpilot ratings. What you have written above seems like a suitable review!

I asked her if it was CBT and she said ‘it wasn’t’. Personally I’m wary of any professional who makes a big secret out of how they work. Those who are actually effective at what they do are usually confident enough to share their knowledge for the greater good. It’s not all about ‘the money’.

On the earlier threads we had some 'parents in the scheme' all saying how wonderful it was. Whenever they were asked what advice they were being given it all became 'it's complicated / it will take too long to explain ....'

If they have a fab cure they would have got research / write ups about it.

Agreed. If I’d found a ‘cure for anxiety’ I’d want the whole World to know. It’s so debilitating and incredibly distressing to witness as a parent.

It’s so debilitating and incredibly distressing to witness as a parent.

hear hear.

The thing is, it does work, it worked for us, where nothing else did. It is the worst thing in the World, watching your child suffer, begging you for help everyday and having nowhere to turn.

Yes, it is not conventional, it is controversial clearly and it's very different from everything else we tried, and failed with...luckily.

The fear of the anxiety is a big one and with knowledge and complete understanding of it, the anxiety has less power. Then with tools to not feed into the anxiety, when the feelings do come up, this helps them move away from the hold it has. Parents have to be totally part of the process too as we must change, so their environment can change, so they can change.

Just like with anything, it is what you put in, that you get out and the approach doesn't suit everyone. But without it, we would be in a wholly different situation altogether. It was at the end of a very long list of things we tried, and now thankfully, that list is complete.

“Just like with anything, it is what you put in, that you get out”, this isn’t helpful and suggests it’s a lack of willingness by parents to support and address any “work” which needs doing. Much of the anxiety of children and young people is environmentally caused, and it’s rarely caused in the home. Most is caused by unmet needs and even trauma in schools. Until a child feels safe in their environment, any tools or parental behaviour changes will only continue the cycle and lead the cyp to believe they are causing the anxiety and damage their confidence and self-esteem.

@Shoot4TheStars I'm really glad it worked for you, and there are enough people saying this for it to be clear their approach does work for some.

I have (at least) 2 issues still though.

First Just like with anything, it is what you put in, that you get out and the approach doesn't suit everyone. That does rather seem to lay blame on families if it doesn't work for them. Sort of they didn't try hard enough, rather than the programme being unsuitable in certain situations.

Going back in time, the large sums of money up front, the 'guaranteed' success, coupled with the very 'attacking' style of responses to negative reviews, or when not attacking the 'oh we are so hurt by what you said' trying to guilt trip already struggling parents.

I'm not sure I have yet seen a parent of either a deeply traumatised child, or an autistic child, say it helped them.

So I can see it working for some children, especially if the home environment has been unwittingly facilitating the anxiety, but for children with more complex issues ...