Growing active resilience for children, young people and communities in a changing world
I offer training, talks and coaching for young people and the parents and professionals who support them
My work is built on sound, up to date and immediately useable research and practice from the fields of Neurobiology, Attachment, Trauma and `Resilience. My approach is deeply relational and imbued with creativity, mindfulness and compassion.
I work with professionals in social care, education and health, climate focused organisations, mental health provision and children’s services, offering years of experience in training, coaching and group facilitation. I also work with parents and carers who are looking for support and care in the deeply important work of raising children.
All my work is informed and inspired by…
creative arts psychotherapy
trauma informed practice
socially engaged somatics
evolved, indigenous human needs and nature
neurodiversity
warm accompaniment and validation
intergenerational care
restorative and non punishing practices
climate justice
equity and social justice
We are living in challenging times. Climate and social crises are putting more and more pressure on all of our systems of support. Education, health and social services are increasingly under pressure and there is increasing stress on children, young people and adults. The research shows clearly that we need each other. We are a relational species and we have the potential for great resilience when we work together.
Together, we can create a culture of care; where parents feel supported and up to the task of raising strong and confident children; where children are seen, heard, valued and can grow into their fullest potential; and where communities come together to create a culture that is connected, compassionate and fully resourced to meet the ever evolving challenges we face. For that we need new ideas and robust strategies for meeting life with strength and flexibility.
Meeting challenging times together
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Free resources, thoughtful articles, news about talks and courses. We will not inundate your mailbox but will really appreciate being able to let you know what we are up to.
Parenting for resilience in challenging times
An informative and vital 90 minute seminar that addresses the need for raising resilient young people in a time of social and ecological disruption, why this is the most urgent challenge facing us as adults, what’s needed and how we can help.
Live online call on Thursday 18th September 2025
7-8.30pm
parent/carer coaching
Get the support you need as a parent to cope with the very real challenges children and young people are facing. If you are professional supporting young people Jo offers experienced supervision.
resources
Practical, bite sized tools for self-regulation, stress management and resilience. The beginnings of a collection of videos, conversations with Jo and articles for parents, young people and activists.
talks & trainings
Jo McAndrews is a passionate speaker and a profoundly empowering trainer. Her delivery is well researched, highly practical and supportive, leaving her audience with greater insight, tools for change and a deeper sense of hope and possibility.
The magic of warm listening
an online course for parents and carers
Parenting is hard, but you don’t have to do it alone.
The Magic of Warm Listening is a deeply supportive course designed to help you build the strong, connected relationship your child needs to thrive. Grounded in the latest research on attachment, trauma, and resilience, this course will give you the practical tools and compassionate guidance to become your child’s best ally, especially in challenging times. Let’s take this journey together.
A practical guide for parents and other adults who would like to be more resourced when talking with children about climate change.
Understand why talking about climate change is so vitally important right now and how we can go about it in a more resilient and resourceful way.
Supported by neuroscience and full of practical strategies and advice.
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Stay in touch for resources and information about what we are up to and to receive your free Truth Without Trauma guide.
Co-resilience
a radical reclaiming
The word ‘resilience’ is of the moment. We need to be talking about it and yet it is understood in different ways according to the context.
The way we define resilience at LifeKind is the strength and flexibility to change, adapt and thrive in the face of challenge. It is not about simply bouncing back. It is about growing ever deeper into connection with ourselves, each other and the natural world, knowing that we are not alone.
There is no such thing as a resilient individual. Humans have evolved to depend utterly on each other and on the natural world. For this reason we are using the word co-resilience which starts to convey the depth of our dependence on each other.
Co-resilience is rooted in childhood. Our evolved needs are for intense and lifelong warm and empathic connection with others. Babies are born to expect a village of people to respond to every need with care. Growing children stay connected to safe adults to develop to their full potential.
Our industrial cultures have forgotten this truth and we are now seeing the devastating consequences; in tragic levels of mental illness amongst children, soaring social inequality, ecological devastation and climate change.
To face the challenges that are here now and in the future we need a new story - a story of change and reconnection with life, with all that enables us to be fully human. Co-resilience means that we are stronger together. It shows us a different way to bring up children, a way that gives them the true strength and flexibility to face the future.
There is no other way forward that stands a chance.
We can’t protect our children from the impact of climate change, but we can protect them from the trauma of being alone with it
Jo McAndrews
Jo McAndrews
Jo McAndrews is a mother, trained integrative arts psychotherapist and passionate environmental campaigner who has been running workshops and courses for the last 30 years on education, child development, community and social justice, trauma and bereavement. With her warm and inclusive style she creates a safe and friendly environment to explore difficult subjects.
Jo is a member of the Climate Psychology Alliance (CPA) you can find more about their work here.
A small child staring in wonder at a line of ants, watched fondly by a loving parent is directly linked to the survival of life on earth.
Get in touch
If you’d like support in growing resilience, have some questions or want to work together please do get in touch. I’d love to hear from you
Email
jo@jomcandrews.com