About Capa First Response
Capa First Response is a specialist UK organisation supporting families and professionals affected by Child or Adolescent to Parent Aggression and/or Harm (CPA). We provide compassionate, evidence-informed support that helps families reduce conflict, improve safety and rebuild relationships.
We understand that child-to-parent aggression is complex and often misunderstood. Our approach is neuro-affirming, trauma-informed and relationship-focused, recognising that behaviour is a form of communication and that lasting change comes through understanding, connection and practical support.
For families
We offer accessible online support for parents and carers across the UK, helping families to:
- Understand the underlying drivers of aggressive and harmful behaviour.
- Develop practical strategies to improve safety at home.
- Strengthen communication and relationships.
- Reduce feelings of isolation, blame and stigma.
- Build confidence, hope and resilience for the future.
Whether you are seeking early support or are experiencing more embedded behaviours, our experienced practitioners provide a safe, non-judgemental space where you will be listened to, understood and supported.
For professionals
We work alongside professionals to strengthen local responses to child-to-parent abuse through high-quality training, consultation and specialist advice. Our evidence-informed approach increases knowledge, confidence and practical skills, enabling services to provide more effective support for families.
Our team brings together decades of frontline practice, clinical expertise, research and lived experience, ensuring every family and professional benefits from compassionate, informed and practical guidance.
How we can help
For families we offer:
Weekly online Drop-in sessions
Online Advice & Support sessions
Online Specialist group programmes
Online Bespoke one-to-one family support
Online weekend workshops
For professionals we offer:
Online half day Introduction to Child-to-Parent Abuse training CPD accredited
Online One-day specialist training CPD accredited
Individual and team case consultation and supervision
Face-to-face training events delivered across the UK
Bespoke training events to suit your needs
Why we don’t like to use the term ‘abuse’
Since starting Capa First Response we’ve moved away from using the term ‘abuse’ to describe the actions and behaviours of the children in the families we support. Read why here.
We do recognise that using ‘CAPVA’ (Child Against Parent/caregiver Violence/Aggression) is the industry standard but we explain why we don’t like to use the word ‘abuse here. You’ll see a few phrases and words on our website linked to the term CAPVA. We want to work to not only help to lower the numbers of families suffering, but to also reduce the stigma in the hopes that families won’t put off asking for help when this is something being experienced.
Take a look at our Frequently Asked Questions, or read more about how Capa First Response started..
The Capa First Response Approach
At least 40% of child-to-parent violence and abuse incidents are unreported to police, according to research by the VRU (the Mayor of London’s Crime Reduction Unit in 2022)
Drawing on data from 2011-20, the research found that while there was no single cause of child-to-parent violence and abuse, the issue was often under-reported to police due to fears of criminalisation, stigmatisation or the risk of having a child removed from homes. Other factors include cultural and linguistic barriers, and a mistrust of services resulting in patchwork support and resources for families.
In another example, a woman who had been a victim of intimate violence from her previous partner, was not supported by her family when her child became abusive. Her family blamed her for “not being hard enough” on her children.
Source: The Guardian
About the team
At Capa First Response, our greatest strength is our people. Every member of our team has extensive experience of supporting families affected by child and adolescent to parent aggression and harm, bringing compassion, specialist knowledge and a relational approach to every interaction.
All of our practitioners are carefully selected, not only for their qualifications and experience, but for their values and commitment to working in a neuro-affirming, trauma-informed and non-judgemental way. We know each practitioner personally, understand their approach, and provide ongoing support and supervision to ensure families receive the highest quality care.
Each practitioner brings their own areas of expertise, allowing us to match families with the practitioner whose knowledge and experience best meets their needs. For example, members of our team have specialist expertise in supporting families where a child or young person is neurodivergent, helping parents understand the unique factors that may be influencing behaviour and providing practical, tailored strategies that reflect each family’s circumstances.
Together, our team combines decades of frontline practice, specialist training and lived understanding to ensure every family feels heard, understood and supported.
Meet our funders & partners:
We are incredibly grateful to the funders, commissioners and partners who share our vision and stand alongside us in supporting families affected by child and adolescent to parent aggression and harm.
Their investment enables us to provide early intervention, specialist support and practical resources to families and professionals across the UK, ensuring more people can access help when they need it most.
Together, we are raising awareness of this often hidden form of family abuse, strengthening professional responses and helping families build safer, stronger and more hopeful futures.
We are proud to work in partnership with organisations that recognise the importance of compassionate, evidence-informed support and are committed to creating lasting, meaningful change for families.
