Support for Children in Transition
Roger & Christine Day
Each year thousands of children suffer months of acute anxiety, low confidence and regressive behaviour as they anticipate a major school change in the Autumn. Children in Transition is a new scheme developed by Brook Creative Therapy to support such children and their families.
About 90 per cent of children vary between genuine excitement and mild anxiety as they prepare to move from preschool to reception, infants to juniors, primary to secondary school - or the private school equivalents. Children in Transition focuses on the other 10 per cent of children whose anxiety levels result in disturbed behaviour, sleeping difficulties and a return to bedwetting or other regressive behaviours.
Brook Creative Therapy's Children in Transition scheme - which supplements the excellent support schools already provide - offers intensive help for children aged 3 to 13, along with their families where appropriate. The aim is prevention before emotional cure becomes necessary.
The child attends two or three intensive but fun sessions during half-term or summer holidays. If it seems appropriate, sessions involving parents/carers and the child or even the whole family, may be needed. Families living outside the Central Midlands may want to have a holiday in the area while the sessions are going on. There is plenty of accommodation to suit all pockets and a variety of major attractions for every age, including Rugby School museum, Warwick Castle, Royal Leamington Spa, historic Stratford, Twycross Zoo and Drayton Manor Theme Park.
As facilitators of the Children in Transition sessions, one of our main tasks is to help children develop strategies to cope with anxiety by building confidence and self-esteem. Safe and healthy ways of expressing pent-up anger are also useful for such children. Families may need to make adjustments to accommodate the changes children make as a result of the sessions.
Our experience is that children who have been bullied or victimised, or who lag behind others in educational achievement, may be especially vulnerable to anxiety. So, too, are those with mild physical disabilities or learning difficulties.
After 20 years of working therapeutically with children, we believe that the change from primary to secondary education can be the most stressful transition in life. Children who seem 'different', such as those with ADHD or mild autistic spectrum difficulties (including Asperger's Syndrome), especially may need emotional support as they prepare for this transition. Children from Eastern Europe may also be viewed as 'different' because of their accents or ways of thinking.
Without such help, some children are likely to end up with severe emotional problems that can affect their futures. That is why we at Brook Creative Therapy have launched Children in Transition at this strategic time. We are confident that parents/carers will recognise the need for therapeutic support during children's times of major transition.
The cost for a child attending three sessions during a week of Children in Transition support is £150 (£50 per session). If family sessions are also needed the total cost is £60 per session of up to one hour. For further details see our website: www.brookcreativetherapy.com
To book a session email: brookcreativetherapy@gmail.com or telephone 07870 737652/01788 541 937.
We work together as a couple to provide the child with a sense of safety and security. We use a variety of techniques drawn from play therapy and transactional analysis psychotherapy, depending on the child's age and ability. We have enhanced CRB checks that are kept up to date.
Roger DayCertified Play Therapist, UKCP Registered Psychotherapist, PTSTA (Psychotherapy)
Christine Day NNEB, Diploma in Counselling