Therapeutic interventions
Karen has spent the last twenty years gaining experience in working with children and young adults with additional needs alongside multi disciplinary teams. She now specialises in supporting children through play and therapeutic interventions, as an interim, whilst the children wait for assessments and appointments with Therapists. Previously Karen founded and ran a charity for families in Northamptonshire whose children were diagnosed with cancer for over ten years. She is a qualified baby massage instructor, trained in Level 1 Theraplay and Group Theraplay, gained a level 4 certificate in Neuroscience in the Early Years and is a Specialist Protective Behaviours Practitioner. She is currently studying for a Neuro Dramatic Play Diploma.
Available to teach taster sessions and levels 1-4 for inhouse learning and public sessions.
Makaton is a unique language programme that uses symbols, signs and speech to enable people to communicate. With the programme been used around the world, Makaton has been shown to increase opportunities for personal expression, participation and social interaction.
Being able to communicate is one of the most important skills we need in life. Almost everything we do involves communication; everyday tasks such as learning at school, asking for food and drink, sorting out problems, making friends and having fun. These all rely on our ability to communicate with each other.
People of all ages and abilities can benefit from learning and using Makaton, including those with communication difficulties, those who are at an early stage of communication and language development, those who are learning English as an additional language and those supporting people who use Makaton so that the users are understood and their needs can be met.
To find out more information about when Karen is running the next workshop please contact her via the website. The workshop fee is £85 per person per level and includes a participants manual and a certificate of attendance.
1-1 sessions for children aged 4 and over. Available for private sessions at home or visiting the child's nursery/school.
SandStory Skills® is a gentle, creative and innovative technique which supports self expression using sand, symbols and creative storytelling to promote positive emotional development safely.
SandStory Skills® is a planned intervention, working 1:1 with a child, using sand, small world figures and games to help children to express themselves emotionally.
SSS® can be beneficial for any child or young person. Most children at some point will struggle to adjust to life's challenges, not all of these children will need or want therapy, however there are benefits to soft touch interventions such as SSS®. SSS® is particularly beneficial for those children who; • find it difficult to express themselves • struggle with low self-esteem • struggle with low confidence/self-belief • communicate through challenging behaviours • have difficulties with peer relationships When children and young people are really listened to and able to tell their stories they are less likely to develop more serious emotional difficulties.
Karen has attended additional training at The Sand and Sound Centre focussing on Trauma in the Sand and Sound in the Sand as a Symbol and Healing Agent in Integrative Sandplay.
