Adrian Perks, an Integrative Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, joined Family Futures’ multidisciplinary team last year. Adrian explains how his personal journey as an adoptive parent inspired him to become a therapist.

What inspired you to become a therapist?

My personal experience of co-parenting an adopted child opened my eyes to the complexities of identity, attachment, and trauma. Being part of therapy sessions myself with my family had a profound effect on me feeling motivated to help others, to interrupt harmful cycles and build relationships from a place of awareness and to help other families navigate similar journeys.

Where did you train as a therapist?

I trained at Terapia, who are based in Finchley, London. Their programmes are designed for those passionate about working therapeutically with children, young people, and families.

Apart from your Terapia training, have you found any other areas useful for supporting Adoptive Parents and Special Guardians?

Yes, definitely. I am a Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) Informed Practitioner (Level 2) and a trained as an EMDR therapist, having completed Parts 1, 2 & 3 Adult EMDR Training, and Level 1 EMDR Child & Adolescent Training. Both these areas I have found helpful for parents, carers and children.

Can you say more about NVR?

NVR training can be a game-changer for adoptive parents navigating challenging behaviours, especially those rooted in trauma, attachment difficulties, or child-to-parent violence. NVR can offer the following:

• Empowerment without escalation: NVR teaches parents how to respond to aggression or defiance with calm, consistent presence rather than confrontation.
• Connection over control: It emphasizes rebuilding relationships and strengthening parental authority through non-punitive means.
• Supportive community: Many courses are group-based, allowing parents to connect with others facing similar challenges.

And what is EMDR?

EMDR stands for Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing—a powerful, structured form of psychotherapy designed to help people recover from trauma and distressing life experiences.

How it works:

• EMDR helps the brain “unstick” traumatic memories that haven’t been fully processed.
• During sessions, the therapist guides you to recall distressing memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation—usually side-to-side eye movements, tapping, or sounds. (I mostly use buzzers that are usually held in client’s hands.)
• This process is thought to mimic what happens during REM sleep, helping the brain reprocess the memory so it becomes less intense and emotionally charged.

What it helps with:

• Originally developed for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), EMDR is now used for:
  • Anxiety and panic disorders
  • Depression
  • Phobias
  • Grief and loss
  • Childhood trauma
  • Addictions and more

EMDR is a NICE approved therapy.

Why did you join Family Futures?

Family Futures has been a pioneer in trauma-informed care in the UK for over 25 years, so I was motivated to be part of an organisation at the forefront of innovative therapeutic practice. I was interested to learn more about the Neuro Physiological Psychotherapy (NPP) model framework – which was created with a deep commitment to healing developmental trauma in children – especially those who are adopted, fostered or part of special guardianship orders.

If you are interested in EMDR therapy, you can contact The Family Futures Wellbeing Hub for a free consultation. We are currently offering EMDR to adults and adolescents and will be offering this intervention to younger children in the future.

For further information on NVR parenting and training, read more and listen to Adrian’s podcast episode here.