6 Things you should know about how play therapy training will change you and your relationships.
So you want to train to be a play therapist? Really? There are a few things you should know, that none of the play therapy training materials will tell you. Firstly, you will likely develop a life-long penchant for 'collecting' miniature items from shops, car boots,...
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Stress and inevitable symptoms of working in a school…?
This just came in from one of the senior teachers I have been supporting. It is shared here with permission. Everyone's story is different of course - and if you are curious to change yours then please get in touch. "Hi there I just wanted to send you a few words that...
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Routine at Christmas – a gift for worried, anxious and down-right scared children
Hinton loves routine. He really does. He has always had a sensitive temperament. Routine helps him know where he is, what is coming next, and he likes that. We are at the stage now where he knows there is a period of time to wait (for digestion) between breakfast and...
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Halloween has been – but not necessarily gone ~ Helping a child who has been scared by something fictional they’ve seen.
I'm pretty sure it is not just me getting older, but I have been really struck over recent years by the amount of 'Halloween' in the shops and on the telly. I'm not just talking about pumpkins and broomsticks. It seems that a more prolific and much darker element to...
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The down-side to having Pastoral Staff in school
So many times I have heard it said to me 'we are doing ok, we have a learning mentor' or 'we have a nurture room' or 'we have a child and family support worker'. Even if it is not said specifically in those words, I have had more conversations than I want to count...
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Working with Children and Dogs -1 : Big for their age
SO many of you will already know that after 10 years of continuous work as a children's therapist, often working with very complex cases, I have been on a sabbatical from my direct clinical work. Have I been sitting around twiddling thumbs for the last year? Umm No....
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Trumping Consistency – 7 tips for Choosing a Child’s Next Teacher
This time of year is significant for many reasons. Football tournaments, Tennis tournaments, National and International athletics championships...(I'm not going to mention the obvious politically 'interesting' time in the UK at the moment)... But for those schools who...
read moreKeeping Children Emotionally Safe in School
Everybody knows that children should feel safe when they are at school. It is the hope of every parent and every adult working in a school...and yet the reality is often very different. Whilst it is helpful as a stand-alone event, this training works best as a...
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Making Reputations – how what we say about children behind their backs impacts their future
The staff room and the school gate are 2 places where reputations are made. Here's what I have noticed. A child, (who for whatever reason - and there WILL be a reason) crosses a boundary and hurts someone. The adult feels shocked, surprised, hurt, angry and many other...
read moreESSENTIAL Therapeutic Communication Skills Training
Do you ever work with small groups or 1:1 Do children get sent to you throughout the day? Do you wish you could guarantee that children felt safe being around you? Do you wish you knew what to say and do to really help them be their best? Not everyone can train...
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Dear Headteacher… An open letter to a Head about staff wellbeing
Dear Headteacher Before I get on with follow-up emails for everyone I saw this morning, I wanted to take a moment to write and officially thank you. I want to thank you for the way you are choosing to lead your school. Thank you for making time and allowing your...
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Communicating with children when they say “it’s boring!”
The other day I overheard a child tell his teacher he didn't want to go home. Why not? "Because it's boring." As soon as I heard him I started to wonder what he really meant. I never got to find out as the teacher started cajoling him with all the exciting things he...
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