Episode 2 explores 'Day One' - the moment a parent first suspects something may be different about their child.

Joined by community paediatrician and parent Dr Karen Russell, Carrie and Sam unpack the shock, grief cycles and uncertainty that so many families face. A compassionate, validating episode for anyone navigating those early signs and unanswered questions.

Cerebra – support, guides and resources for families of children with brain conditions (www.cerebra.org.uk)

The episode covers:

- The challenges of waiting for a diagnosis, or living without one

- System’s Generated Trauma

- Navigating autism, neurological conditions, and rare disorders

- Advocating for your child within the healthcare system

- Why protecting your own mental health is essential from day one

You’ll also hear real experiences from families, alongside practical advice on finding support. Helpful organisations mentioned include:

- Cerebra – support, guides and resources for families of children with brain conditions (www.cerebra.org.uk)

- https://cerebra.org.uk/download/after-diagnosis-what-now/

- https://cerebra.org.uk/download/information-and-support-for-parents-of-a-child-recently-diagnosed-with-a-genetic-condition/

- https://cerebra.org.uk/download/systems-generated-trauma-report/

- SWAN UK – support for families without a confirmed diagnosis (www.swanuk.org.uk)

- National Autistic Society – advice, support and local groups (www.autism.org.uk)

Contact has a comprehensive library (https://contact.org.uk/conditions/) of condition specific information and associated support groups.

Unique - support for families affected by rare chromosome and gene disorders (www.rarechrome.org)

Welcome to The Calm in the Complicated - a podcast for families raising children with brain conditions.

In this first episode, hosts Carrie Grant and Dr Samantha Flynn share their own journeys both personal and professional, and the hopes behind creating a space where SEND parents can feel understood. Warm, honest and full of lived experience, it’s the perfect introduction to a community built on empathy and support.

The Calm in the Complicated: Guiding families through childhood brain conditions with expertise and heart. Brought to you by Cerebra, the UK charity dedicated to helping families find a better life together.

For more information please visit cerebra.org.uk

Follow us on Instagram at @cerebracharity

Follow us on Facebook at @CerebraCharity

Follow us on LinkedIn at @cerebra-charity

Or email us at calm@cerebra.org.uk

Welcome to The Calm in the Complicated - a podcast created for every family who has ever felt overwhelmed, unseen, or alone while raising a child with a brain condition. Hosted by Dr Carrie Grant MBE and researcher Dr Samantha Flynn, the series brings together lived experience, expert wisdom, and the kind of honest conversations that make you exhale and think, “Finally… someone gets it.”

Shaped entirely by parent carers, the podcast explores the moments they told us matter the most - the fear of those first suspicions that something is wrong, the mountain of admin, the strain on relationships, the sleepless nights, and the quiet fight to look after your own wellbeing. Each episode includes real voice notes from parents across the UK, making this a space where families’ voices aren’t just included, they’re central.

With practitioners, researchers, and parent campaigners joining the conversation, The Calm in the Complicated offers connection, comfort, and practical support. It’s a virtual village for anyone navigating the complexities of childhood brain conditions. It’s a place to feel understood, uplifted, and reminded that you don’t have to do this alone.

The Calm in the Complicated: Guiding families through childhood brain conditions with expertise and heart. Brought to you by Cerebra, the UK charity dedicated to helping families find a better life together.

For more information please visit cerebra.org.uk

Follow us on Instagram at @cerebracharity

In this episode Carrie and Sam talk about Family Dynamics, the reality of raising children with different needs, managing competing demands, and holding family life together through chaos, conflict and connection.

Joined by broadcaster, author and parent David Grant, Carrie and Sam have an honest conversation about parenting as a team, navigating differing parenting styles, supporting siblings, and learning to let go of expectations around what family life “should” look like. A candid, reassuring episode for parents trying to balance everyone’s needs while protecting their own relationships too.

The episode covers:

1. Parenting children with very different and sometimes conflicting needs
2. Coping as partners and finding a united parenting approach
3. Supporting siblings and understanding their unique experiences
4. Managing meltdowns, anxiety, and challenging behaviour within the family
5. Letting go of parenting expectations and embracing a different family dynamic
6. Why communication and protecting your relationship as parents matters

You’ll also hear lived experiences from families in the community, including adoptive parents navigating diagnosis assumptions, sibling relationships, and celebrating everyday wins that may look different in SEND families.

Joined later by Dr Nikita Hayden, researcher specialising in siblings of children with learning and developmental disabilities, who shares insights into sibling wellbeing, future planning, and how parents can better support all children in the family.

Helpful organisations and resources mentioned include:

Cerebra – support, guides and resources for families of children with brain conditions (cerebra.org.uk)

Sibs – support for siblings of disabled children and adults (sibs.org.uk)

Connect with us:

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/cerebracharity/

Get in touch: calm@cerebra.org.uk

Find out more: cerebra.org.uk

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/cerebracharity/

This episode explores the overwhelming life admin families face when raising a child with a brain condition. Carrie, Sam and guest Rachel Wright unpack the emotional weight of endless paperwork and share practical, compassionate strategies to help parents feel less alone.

Joined by Rachel Wright, founder of Born at the Right Time, qualified nurse and parent to children with complex needs, this episode offers honest conversation, reassurance and practical strategies for managing the hidden second job that so often comes with parenting in the SEND world. A validating listen for any parent feeling overwhelmed by the systems surrounding their child.

The episode covers:

1. The emotional toll of constant paperwork and appointments
2. EHCPs, assessments and advocating within complex systems
3. Coordinating healthcare, education and social care support
4. Managing information overload and staying organised
5. Why parent carers need support too

You’ll also hear lived experiences, practical advice and compassionate reflections to help families feel less alone while navigating the day-to-day realities of raising a child with a brain condition.

Connect with us:

Find out more: cerebra.org.uk

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/cerebracharity/

Get in touch: calm@cerebra.org.uk

Follow Rachel Wright @bornatRightTime or connect with her https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-wright-0610509a/

https://www.bornattherighttime.com

Connect with Mike Richmond@tutor_doctor_nwleeds

www.linkedin.com/in/mistermiketd

https://www.tutordoctor.co.uk/resources/

Useful Resources:

SENDIASS: https://www.sendiass.org.uk

IPSEA (education rights and SEND law): https://www.ipsea.org.uk

Contact (support for families with disabled children): https://contact.org.uk

Sleep can feel impossible when you’re raising a child with a brain condition, and when nobody in the house is sleeping, the impact reaches every part of family life. In this episode, Carrie and Sam explore the reality of chronic sleep deprivation in SEND families, from bedtime battles and sensory sensitivities to exhaustion, anxiety and the strain it can place on the whole household.

Joined by Inneke Woods, who leads Cerebra’s Sleep Service, the conversation offers compassionate, practical advice for families navigating disrupted nights and overwhelming routines. Together they unpack why traditional sleep advice often doesn’t work for children with brain conditions, and why personalised, realistic support matters so much.

The episode covers:

1. Why sleep challenges are so common for children with brain conditions
2. Sensory sensitivities around noise, light, clothing and routines
3. Managing anxiety, overstimulation and emotional regulation at bedtime
4. The impact of sleep deprivation on parents, siblings and relationships
5. Co-sleeping, bedtime dependency and navigating family dynamics
6. Screens, white noise and creating personalised sleep environments
7. Aggression, burnout and the wider emotional toll of chronic exhaustion
8. Why “small wins” matter and how families can find support without judgement

You’ll also hear honest experiences from parents in the community, including the realities of epilepsy, shared sleeping arrangements, sibling needs and adapting family life around survival mode. A reassuring and deeply validating episode for any parent feeling isolated by sleep struggles.

Helpful organisations and resources mentioned include:

Cerebra – support, guides and resources for families of children with brain conditions (cerebra.org.uk)

Cerebra Sleep Service

Cerebra Sleep Seminars and Workshops

The Count Me In Lottery

Connect with us:

Find out more: cerebra.org.uk

Follow us: https://www.instagram.com/cerebracharity/

Get in touch: calm@cerebra.org.uk