The Treehouse Family Centre
A welcoming place in Table View, Cape Town, offering supervised contact, safe handovers, reunification support, child participation and family mediation. We help children and families when spending time together has become difficult.
About The Treehouse
Every family has its own story. The Treehouse Family Centre offers a welcoming, child-friendly space where children and parents can spend time together with professional support when family relationships are under strain.
Whether you need help rebuilding a relationship, arranging safe contact or working through parenting difficulties, our team takes time to understand your family and explore the support that may help.
As a project of the Samuel Lawson Foundation NPC, we put children’s wellbeing at the heart of our work.
Services Offered at The Treehouse
Supervised Child Contact
A child-friendly place for a child and parent to spend time together, with a practitioner present to guide and support the visit and step in when needed.
Safe Handovers and Drop-Offs
A calm place for children to be collected or dropped off, with carefully planned arrangements to keep them away from conflict between adults.
Reunification Support
Gentle, child-focused support to help a child and parent rebuild their relationship after separation or a break in contact, at a pace that responds to the child’s needs.
Child Participation and Voice-of-the-Child
Age-appropriate opportunities for children to express their views and experiences, with professional support and without being asked to choose between parents.
Family Mediation
A space to discuss parenting plans, maintenance, divorce or separation arrangements and other family matters with an impartial mediator. We help you explore workable agreements without pressure to accept the other person’s proposals.
When might supervised contact help?
Supervised contact may help when a child and parent have been apart for some time, or when conflict or safety concerns make visits difficult to arrange. A practitioner remains present throughout the visit to support the child and parent and respond when needed.
Parents, caregivers and referring professionals can contact us. Whether there is a court order or an agreed arrangement, we take time to understand the family’s circumstances and the child’s needs before planning support.
Care shaped around the child
A place to feel welcome
The Treehouse is designed to feel warm and welcoming. Children can explore toys, books and activities in a space created with them in mind.
Our team takes time to get to know each family. We help children settle in and give parents space to ask questions and feel prepared for their visits. Where separate arrivals and collection are needed, we plan these carefully to keep adult conflict away from children.
Not sure where to start? You do not need to know which service to choose. Complete our online referral form and tell us what your family needs help with. Our team will review your referral and help you understand the support available and the next steps.
Support within reach
We want support to be within reach of families who need it. Reduced-fee and pro bono (free) services are available to qualifying families, subject to an assessment of financial circumstances, available funding and capacity.
If cost is a concern, please let us know in your referral. We will discuss the options with you and explain any applicable fees before services begin.
You are welcome to ask for help
The Treehouse Family Centre is in Table View, Cape Town. Visits are by appointment so we can give each family time and attention.
If you need help completing the referral form, email admin@samuellawsonfoundation.org and we can arrange assistance.
Practical guidance for your family
Looking for ideas to support your child through separation? Our free Parent Separation Starter Kit offers guidance you can read and use at home.
Support The Treehouse
Donations help sustain the Centre, professional care and subsidised services. You can give monthly or once off, discuss a business partnership, or offer useful equipment and other practical support.
Your partnership helps children and families access support they may otherwise be unable to afford.