EPIC v a parenting course: what’s the difference?

A huge frustration we hear from many of our parents is that when they bravely reach out for support having found themselves experiencing Child to Parent Abuse, they are promptly told to go on a parenting course.

FACT: 53% of parents who have changed their mind about contacting a professional for support did so because they felt the professional would think their child’s behaviour was their fault.

As well as worsening the guilt, upset and blame they are already likely to be feeling, this approach is sometimes the only solution they are offered by the agencies they contact.

This reinforces the misconception that CPA is down to parenting…rather than the reality that it can be influenced by a complex range of factors which differ from family to family.

FACT: 88% of parents with multiple children only have one who displays abusive behaviours.

It’s this complexity which means that a ‘one size fits all’ approach simply doesn’t work. Often, a range of options will need to be tried before the parent sees the circumstances changing in their home for the better.

And that’s why when Michelle John launched PEGS, she set out to provide a broad scope of choices for parents – including drop ins, peer support, workshops, advocacy and PEGS’ bespoke EPIC programme.

EPIC stands for Empowering Parents in Crisis and it’s about doing exactly that.

FACT: Three quarters feel blamed for their child’s behaviour.

PEGS won’t tell you what you should be doing differently, or tell you to try something you’ve already tried or know won’t work in your household.

Instead, the sessions focus on communication, on practical steps like putting together a safety plan or recording an incident log, and on building up the confidence that may have been eroded through the parent’s experience of CPA.

FACT: Almost four in ten don’t feel confident about their parenting on a daily basis.

It’s all about that crucial word of empowerment – because so many parents feel blamed, and the lack of widespread knowledge of this type of domestic abuse doesn’t help.

Currently, we have funding to run EPIC programmes in the West Mercia and Derbyshire areas – anyone living in those regions can contact us at admin@pegsupport.com for more information about the programme. Please note funding streams do change over time, so this is subject to change in the future. We provide updates across our social media regularly about where and when programmes are running. We also have a number of specialist workshops running which are accessible for parents anywhere.

All of our statistics are from the PEGS 2021 Parental Survey.

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Founding Director, Michelle, has been awarded an MBE in the Kings Birthday Honours for Family Support and Advocacy.

By PEGS Admin • June 15, 2026

Child to Parent Abuse organisation founder awarded MBE The founder of a social enterprise which has supported thousands of parents impacted by abusive behaviours from their children has been awarded an MBE. Michelle John, originally from Pembrokeshire in Wales but now based in Shropshire, was among the names announced for the prestigious accolade in the King’s Birthday Honours List this year. In 2020, Michelle set up not-for-profit organisation PEGS with the aim of supporting parents and carers, training professionals, influencing local and national policy, and raising awareness of Child to Parent Abuse – which is thought to affect up to one in ten households in the UK. Since then, she has grown a team of experts who have trained police, social workers, teachers and many other professionals to better recognise the signs of CPA, support parents, and signpost to specialist organisations. In addition, Michelle set up a range of parent-focused initiatives including daily practitioner-led online sessions, a Facebook peer support group which now has 3,300 members, and one-to-one offerings for those at highest risk. PEGS launched a CPA Covenant for employers in partnership with the Department for Work and Pensions, only the fourth such covenant to be backed by the Government, and Michelle has advised everyone from the Home Office to Channel 4 and the BBC on CPA – the latter for storyline on Hollyoaks and EastEnders. Her work has seen CPA covered by journalists across television news programmes, national newspapers and magazine, and regional press and radio, and she’s received numerous awards both in the UK and internationally. Michelle, whose MBE was awarded for Family Support and Advocacy, said: “This honour is also shared with the parents who have trusted me along the way: they drive me, inspire me and I will always stand with them. “I feel proud, privileged and very grateful – and I’d like to thank everyone who has supported me and PEGS along the way. There is much more to come for PEGS, and we will continue to work every day for the parents and carers who have been or continue to be impacted by CPA. “There is so much to reflect on from the journey of the last six years, and there have been many highlights and challenges along the way. I am sure there will be many more in the future – although being told I’d received an MBE will always remain a truly incredible moment that I’ll remember forever!” For more information about us, visit www.pegsupport.co.uk or search for 'PEGS' on social media!