Emotional Wellbeing Speakers for Schools & Events
Inspiring conversations about children's emotional health, education and wellbeing
Looking for an engaging speaker for your school, conference, professional event or organisation?
Emotionally Healthy Minds provides speakers and trainers specialising in children’s emotional wellbeing, education and the challenges facing children and young people today.
Our talks combine professional experience with real-world insight, practical strategies and plenty of honest conversation. Whether you’re looking for a keynote speaker for a conference, an engaging session for school staff, a talk for parents and carers or a workshop for professionals, we can create a session around the needs of your audience.
Our speakers bring experience from education, school leadership, emotional wellbeing, youth work and working directly with children, young people and families.
Most importantly, we don’t believe people need more theory for theory’s sake. We want people to leave with greater understanding, useful language and practical strategies they can actually use.
Meet our Speakers
Sarah Petherick
Founder and Director, Tutor and Emotion Coach
With 20 years’ experience in education and around 25 years of working with children, young people and families, Sarah brings together educational expertise, emotional wellbeing knowledge and real-world experience.
As the founder of Emotionally Healthy Minds, Sarah speaks about the pressures facing children and young people today, helping adults look beyond behaviour to understand what may be happening underneath. Her talks explore topics including emotional regulation, anxiety, resilience, neurodivergence, parenting, barriers to learning and children’s changing emotional needs.
Sarah’s approach is warm, honest and practical. Rather than simply presenting theory, she gives audiences language, understanding and practical strategies they can use in schools, at home and in their work with children and young people.
Sarah speaks at schools, conferences, professional events, churches, webinars and podcasts, and can tailor sessions to suit different audiences and settings.
James Hancock
Schools Team Lead, Tutor and Emotion Coach
James brings more than 20 years of experience in education, including 10 years as a Deputy Headteacher, alongside extensive experience in whole-school emotional wellbeing and mental health.
As a former Mental Health Lead and Thrive Lead, James understands the practical challenges schools face when supporting children whose emotional wellbeing affects their learning, behaviour, confidence or attendance. At Emotionally Healthy Minds, he leads our work with schools, delivering training and workshops for staff, students, parents and carers.
James speaks on topics including emotional wellbeing, emotional regulation, anxiety, resilience, self-confidence, behaviour and creating emotionally healthy learning environments. He combines educational experience with an understanding of neuroscience, practical strategies and plenty of warmth and humour.
His sessions are engaging, accessible and grounded in real school experience, giving audiences ideas they can take away and put into practice immediately.
James is available for school training, conferences, professional events, churches and other education and community settings.
Topics we speak About
Our talks can be adapted to suit your audience, setting and objectives.
Children's Emotional Wellbeing
Understanding children’s emotional health and the role adults can play in creating environments where children feel safe, understood and able to thrive.
Anxiety in Children and Young People
Understanding anxiety, recognising when it may be affecting a child’s behaviour or ability to engage, and exploring practical ways adults can provide support.
Emotional Regulation
Helping adults understand emotional regulation, what happens when children become overwhelmed and how we can respond in ways that support rather than escalate difficulties.
Building Resilience
Exploring how children develop resilience, why resilience isn’t about simply telling children to “bounce back” and how adults can help young people develop confidence in their ability to cope with challenges.
Confidence and Self-Esteem
Understanding what affects children’s confidence and exploring practical ways parents, teachers and other professionals can help children develop a healthier sense of self-belief.
Neurodiversity and Understanding Difference
Developing a better understanding of neurodivergent children and young people, including autism, ADHD and PDA, and considering how environments and adult responses can make a difference.
Behaviour as Communication
Looking beyond behaviour to consider what a child may be communicating through their actions and how changing our response can change the outcome.
Barriers to Learning
Exploring the connection between emotional wellbeing and education and understanding why a child may be unable to engage with learning even when they have the ability to do so.
Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA)
Understanding why some children struggle to attend school, recognising the emotional needs behind school avoidance and considering supportive approaches for children, families and schools.
Parenting and Supporting Children at Home
Practical guidance for parents and carers who want to better understand their child’s emotions, behaviour and needs without feeling that they have to have all the answers.
Creating Emotionally Healthy Schools
Exploring how schools can build emotional wellbeing into everyday practice and create environments where pupils and staff are more able to thrive.
The Changing Pressures Facing Children and Young People
Looking at the pressures children and young people face today, from academic expectations and social media to anxiety, identity, relationships and the challenges of growing up in a constantly changing world.
Who Are Our Talks For?
Our speakers work with a wide range of audiences, including:
- Headteachers and school leaders
- SENCOs and SEND professionals
- Teachers and teaching assistants
- Pastoral and wellbeing teams
- Local authorities and education professionals
- Parents and carers
- Children’s and family services
- Youth organisations
- Churches and Christian organisations
- Professional networks
- Conferences and educational events
- Organisations working with children and young people
From Keynote Talks to Practical Workshops
We can provide a range of speaking formats depending on your event.
- Keynote Talks
Engaging presentations designed to introduce a subject, challenge thinking and leave your audience with practical ideas to take away. - Staff and Professional Sessions
Focused sessions for teachers, school leaders, SENCOs and other professionals working with children and young people. - Parent and Carer Talks
Accessible and reassuring sessions that help parents better understand children’s emotional wellbeing and explore practical strategies they can use at home. - Student Talks and Workshops
Age-appropriate sessions designed to help children and young people understand topics such as anxiety, resilience, emotional regulation, confidence and wellbeing. - Conference and Event Speaking
Talks designed for conferences, professional events, networking events and organisations looking for an experienced speaker on children’s emotional health and education. - Bespoke Sessions
If you have a particular challenge, theme or audience in mind, we can work with you to develop a session around your objectives.
Practical, Relevant and Grounded in Real Experience
There is no shortage of information about children’s mental health and emotional wellbeing. What can be harder though is knowing what to do with that information in real life.
Our speakers bring together professional knowledge and years of experience working directly with children, families and schools. That means our sessions are designed to be:
-
Practical
Ideas and strategies that can be applied beyond the session. -
Accessible
Complex subjects explained in clear, straightforward language. -
Relevant
Grounded in the realities faced by families and schools today. -
Evidence-informed
Drawing on professional experience, education, emotional wellbeing and our understanding of child development and neuroscience. -
Human
Because supporting children is ultimately about relationships, understanding and connection.
And, where appropriate, we don’t mind challenging a few assumptions along the way.
Looking for a Speaker for Your Next Event?
Whether you’re planning a school staff training day, education conference, parent event, professional development session or community event, we’d love to hear what you’re planning.
Tell us about your audience, the event and the topics you’re interested in, and we’ll be happy to discuss how we could help.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you speak at schools?
Yes. Our speakers regularly deliver sessions for school staff, parents, carers and students. Sessions can be tailored to the needs and priorities of your school.
Can you speak at education conferences?
Yes. Sarah and James are available for conferences and professional events covering children’s emotional wellbeing, education, anxiety, resilience, neurodiversity and related subjects.
Can talks be tailored to our audience?
Yes. We can adapt the content, language, format and emphasis depending on whether we’re speaking to teachers, school leaders, parents, young people or other professionals.
Do you offer talks for parents and carers?
Yes. We can provide accessible sessions for parents and carers covering subjects such as anxiety, emotional regulation, resilience, neurodiversity, confidence and supporting children’s emotional wellbeing.
Can you provide student workshops?
Yes. We provide age-appropriate workshops for children and young people, with topics and activities adapted to the age and needs of the group.
Can you provide Christian speakers or sessions for churches?
Yes. Sarah and James both have significant experience within Christian settings. Sessions can be delivered for churches and Christian organisations where appropriate, including topics around emotional wellbeing, parenting, resilience and supporting children and young people.
Do you only speak about mental health?
No. Our sessions cover the wider connection between emotional wellbeing, education, relationships, behaviour, confidence and learning. We can focus on a specific topic or explore several connected areas depending on your requirements.
How do we book a speaker?
Simply get in touch with details of your event, audience, preferred topic and any other requirements. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs and explore the most appropriate speaker and format.
