Children and young people (under the age of 16) attending therapy need to be accompanied by a responsible adult, who remains in the building for the entire duration of their sessions. This applies to both in person or online therapy, the child or young person will always need to have a responsible adult in the building during the whole duration of their sessions. This is for various reasons, for example:
Why is your role so important?
Before the therapy starts
Before the therapy Sessions: Things to keep in mind1. Prepare your child for each session, preferably the day before; let them how is it going to happen
3. Leading on to the time of their appointment; keep a calm and soft tone of voice. Avoid talking about upsetting or conflicting themes. Do not try to break silences; your child may need a quiet time in preparation for their session. 4. Let your child know what you will be doing while they are in session. They might be curious or worried about you during their therapy time. Knowing what you are doing can help them settle and not to be distracted about you outside the therapy room. Let them know:
6. Resist the temptation to distract or reassure your child away from whatever they are feeling about the session and in meeting me. Usually once a child is in the therapy room they are ok and I will be paying attention as to whether they are able to manage the session.
After the therapy sessions: Things to keep in mind
2. As mentioned before, you may have already agreed with the child what to do after their appointment. This can always be re-negotiated as the therapy progresses. Your child may need extra time or support during the first few sessions, and as the time goes by, they will know how things are likely to go and be more able to manage and regulate their emotions. Whatever you have decided between you two, make sure you stick to it! These will help your child to know that you can keep them in mind and that you are there to support them in the therapeutic process. 3. After their sessions, you can make positive remarks. When appropriate you can say something like ‘Well done for attending your session today, I know you were a little worried before the appointment.’ or ‘I am really proud of you seeing Marta, I know that it can be a little anxiety provoking before the sessions.' 4. Also, and very importantly, you can say something like ‘Thank you for letting me to take you to see Marta, I am really proud of being able to support you through this.'
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![]() This is my short interview at BBC Radio Derby, contributing to the Arts on Prescription debate. I was very nervous, though I hope that it introduces the theme for further discussion. Arts, sports, hobbies and other personalised planned activities can not only increase and strengthen our own identity, but it also helps us to reconnect with ourselves and the community around us. If at all possible, do not wait to have this prescribed to you. Get started and join a group, a class or a sport routine. Get stronger and get back into yourself. Click here to access the full interview on YouTube! When these colouring books started to appear I felt very defensive about their titles, as I worked hard to become an art psychotherapist and felt that these books could threaten the credibility of the profession. Art therapy is a profession and art therapist/psychotherapist a protected job title; art therapists in the UK are registered with Health and Care Professionals Council (a statutory regulatory body). Saying this, however, my initial defensive reaction was towards its name; art therapy books. As time has gone by I started to feel that these books actually invited people’s curiosity and brought debate into the profession. Just as Night Nurse (the medicine), does not define or threaten the nursing profession.
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