Our Approach

Therapeutic assessments are carried out initially, tailored to meet the needs of each individual family. My intervention involves working with parents together with their children to enhance the opportunity to form good relationships. Children living with trauma struggle to regulate their feelings, feel safe and trust adults. Therefore, in their new families they will be living with an element of fear and uncertainty. This is often outwardly displayed in what can be interpreted as 'disruptive' and rejecting behaviour. Adopters and carers experiencing this may feel a sense of rejection. This can often feel overwhelming, leading to feelings of exhaustion. If left unsupported parents can get to a point where they, themselves, feel traumatised.

My aim is to develop confidence in parents by providing them with information which helps them make sense of their child's behaviour. I offer family sessions, looking at past traumatic experiences, from a DDP perspective. In addition to the sessions with the child and their parent/s, I offer individual parent sessions. This gives me the opportunity to check in with parent/s. It also affords parent/s the opportunity to discuss their experiences of looking after their child. It gives them the space to talk about any feelings that may have resurfaced for them. These sessions will include the exploration of current difficulties and behaviour patterns, discussing any concerns they may have, focusing on the emotional impact of trauma. This time is spent exploring what it means to therapeutically parent , offering practical solutions. There will also be time and space to consider their own emotional well being.

I actively encourage, where appropriate, working with extended family members, support networks and other professionals integral to caring for the child. This is carried out in order to optimise the continuity of approach taken to support children.

Over The Rainbow respects confidentiality and considers all individual rights, operating in an open and non judgemental way. I aim to maintain high levels of communication between all parties involved, all families are offered a fair and inclusive service.