The NICU Family Support Service

Tel: 01223 216878

Email NICU family support

The NICU Family Support Service

We are a specialist team of one counsellor and one clinical psychologist. We are dedicated to supporting you during your baby’s stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Rosie.

It is normal to experience a range of feelings and emotions whilst your baby is being cared for on the NICU. You might feel shocked, sad, worried, angry, helpless and / or out of control. Many parents have described their journey on NICU as “an emotional roller-coaster”.

The NICU family support team can offer you a confidential space to talk about how your experience is impacting on you as a family and as individuals. We offer informal support by your baby’s cot side or confidential appointments close to the unit.

How can the NICU Family Support Service help?

Everyone copes differently with their feelings about their baby being on the NICU and it can be useful to have a space to talk about the impact this is having on you. Talking can help you to make sense of any difficult feelings you may be experiencing. Your counsellor / clinical psychologist can support you to process your feelings and find ways to cope.

We offer sessions to individuals, couples and siblings. Some families may find ‘one to one' sessions useful, others may prefer joint sessions.

We will discuss your preferences with you and take account of your particular circumstances, to best meet your needs as a family and as individuals.

How can we make an appointment?

If you feel that an appointment with the NICU Family Support Service could be helpful, you can ask any member of staff on NICU to refer you.

If you would like to self-refer, please email the NICU family support team.

You can also telephone our administrator on 01223 216878 (Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 16:00) who will arrange for one of our team to make contact with you directly.

• Sarah jane Archibald, Clinical Psychologist, South Cambridgeshire Neonatal Hub Lead
• Neerja Thergaonkar, Lead Clinical Psychologist for NICU Rosie Hospital
• Georgina Fisher, Counsellor Practitioner for NICU Rosie Hospital

How long are sessions and how often will they be?

Sessions last about an hour but we can negotiate shorter or longer sessions, and frequency of sessions, when we meet. For some families / individuals, one session may feel like enough, others may wish to have several sessions.

Our primary aim is to help you to feel supported during your baby’s stay with us.