Therapeutic Approach

Our work with children and young people is built on a comprehensive assessment process. Through information gathering, observation and structured assessment we co-create a psychological formulation that explains how a child’s difficulties came about and what might be keeping them going.

During this time we draw on Kim Golding's triangle of need, focusing on establishing basic routines and boundaries needed to feel safe and secure. We also work on creating a warm, nurturing environment that helps young people build healthy relationships with carers.

Every child we work with can expect their own, individual formulation. This is a methodical approach, drawing on psychological theory and evidence to understand the factors underlying and maintaining any distress or problematic behaviour. 

A formulation also highlights the areas of intervention that are likely to be helpful to facilitate growth and recovery.

We recognise that over time, development needs, family and environmental factors can all change. That’s why we adopt a continuous cycle of intervention, monitoring, review and re-formulation, working closely with local authorities to ensure the placement provides what each child and young person with us needs. 

Every child and young person has their own tailored psychological intervention plan. This is based on individual needs, informed by the formulation. The TiM care framework uses the psychological formulation and recommended interventions to inform every other dimension of care including risk assessment, behaviour support, missing from home, personal and key working plans.

TiM work within a Dyadic Developmental Practice model (DDP). DDP uses what we know about attachment and developmental trauma to help children and young people with their relationships. Developing trust with the help of PACE (playful, accepting, curiosity, and empathy), adults within our teams are trained and supported by a clinical psychologist to provide therapeutic care and relational experiences similar to those provided in healthy parent-child relationships. 

Where we can, we use the positive relationships children and young people have in the homes to begin to overcome adversity and trauma. Carefully considered and supervised interventions provide young people with opportunities for learning about themselves and others in a manner that is not distorted by past relational experiences of shame and terror. 

Depending on the needs identified by the assessment, specialisit direct work may also be offered. This can be from a range of models and approaches depending on the child's needs and interests including:

• Cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT)
• Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR)
• Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)
• Compassion focused therapy (CFT)
• Schema Therapy
• Systemic Therapy 
• Play therapy and Theraplay
• Art, music, drama and dance therapies
• Occupational therapy and sensory attachment interventions 

A robust baseline assessment with clear, realistic and achievable goals makes it easy to capture positive outcomes. We believe in celebrating these successes (within a young person's capacity) and creating plenty of opportunities to reward effort and growth.

We recognise how challenging transitions can be (for everyone). Whether it's moving to a new school, new hobby or eventually, to a new home (be that foster care or independent living), we will do our upmost to provide young people with adequate preparation, support and the skills to manage the change.