The idea
A lot of our young clients have experienced significant trauma. Due to the pandemic, many missed out on key developmental steps too. This has had all kinds of damaging outcomes. Struggling with school attendance & performance. Increasingly anxiety levels. Difficulties with relationships with family, friends & peers. Feeling overwhelmed & unable to cope. But many can't get help from the NHS.
As well as the immediate problems, this is creating a crisis for their futures. Today’s mental health problems will have consequences for their whole life if they aren’t addressed.
We make sure they aren't left to struggle on alone. Art & play therapies help younger clients understand & express emotions, feelings & experiences. Our therapist enables them to express themselves through two of their main forms of communication: play & art. We work in local venues like schools & community centres. Our service is free & easily accessible & they can be referred for help in a number of ways.
What we'll deliver
- 220 art and play therapy sessions for young clients from low-income families
Why it's a great idea
Our therapy helps children and young people build greater self-esteem, self-belief & resilience. They develop strategies to cope with issues they face and see a way forward to make specific changes in their life. These include going back to school/college, making a successful transition from primary to high school and improving or even rebuilding relationships with family, friends & peers. For some young clients who’ve faced significant trauma, our services have literally been lifesaving.
We recognise parental trauma & adversity can have a profound effect on children. As a result, we sometimes work with more than one member of a family to ensure real change. Positive changes in one person's mental health can have significant benefits for the rest of their family, amplifying the impact by three to four times. Our therapy is easy to access & isn't time limited. The focus is on long-term healing rather than temporary symptom reduction.
Steps to get it done
- Contact referrers to remind them of criteria and how to make referrals into our service
- Deliver play/art therapy sessions
