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Psychology and Therapeutic Services
Psychology and Therapeutic Services: Interventions & Support

Interventions and support

We provide evidence based interventions and support as part of our therapeutic offer for children, young people, families and schools.

"I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without this"- feedback shared by a parent/carer

We work both with individual children and young people as well as the wider family and school systems to which they belong as we recognise that no child develops in isolation.

For more information about anything detailed on our webpages, including how education professionals can make a referral, please email the Psychology and Therapeutic Services team at psychology&therapeuticservices@suffolk.gov.uk.

Video Interaction Guidance

This is an attachment based coaching approach which has been shown to be highly effective for parents and young people. It focuses on recognising and building upon strength to develop and strengthen key relationships. The approach supports children, young people and their parents/carers to understand positive aspects of behaviour and to improve communication skills through positive shared experiences. See more information here: VIG factsheet

The Overcoming Programme

The Overcoming Programme is a guided self-help Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) programme for parents of anxious children. The aim of the programme is for parents to become anxiety management experts by providing strategies that parents can work though at home to support their child. Techniques are discussed with parents in a collaborative way, asking for their opinion as to how each strategy might work for their child given what they know about them. Time is spent on reflecting on what works best for the family and guiding the parents, as well as providing opportunity for practice.

Systemic Family Therapy and Non-Violent Resistance (NVR)

Family and systemic psychotherapy (also known as family therapy) can help those in close relationships to better understand and support each other. NVR is an innovative form of systemic family intervention, which has been developed for aggressive, violent, controlling, and self-destructive behaviour in young people. See more information here: Systemic Family Therapy and NVR P&TS

Human Givens Therapy (individual)

This short video gives a brief overview of the Human Givens therapeutic approach, which can be adapted for children, young people and adults alike.

Human Givens therapy (group) – known as Just What We Need

There are two videos about the Just What We Need group intervention, the first one, below, is shorter and gives a general overview of what the Just What We Need group might be like if you are thinking of attending.

This next, longer video is for those who would like to know a bit more detail. You might be thinking of attending, or you might be thinking of commissioning the intervention for a group of people in your setting.

Members of the team have a wealth of training and specialisms in therapeutic approaches, some of which are listed below. Please contact us to discuss your needs and we can organise packages to provide appropriate support.

PATH (Planning Alternative Tomorrows with Hope) and MAP (Making Action Plans)

PATH and MAP are person centred planning processes used by the Psychology and Therapeutic services to work towards a brighter future for people. Find out more information here: PATH & MAP P&TS

We also offer training in this area to support you to invest in staff development and person-centred practice: this miniPATH training nurtures staff with the confidence and skills to deliver their own miniPATHs with CYP.

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends: an approach which enhances the inclusion of an individual in school by involving their peers in problem solving and giving support.

Three Session Change

Sycol - Three Session Change: solution oriented, competency-based support which encourages goal making and positive change.

Precision Monitoring

Precision monitoring - Addressing a very specific gap in a child’s knowledge or increasing a desired behaviour: showing them daily success.

Sensory Profiling

Sensory profiling - Carrying out a very detailed observation of sensory differences, to create a personalised profile that is strengths-based. This is designed to help educational settings and families to be more aware of any differences and to then co-create a practical approach to intervention and planning that helps a young person to self-regulate.

Team Pupil

Using Team Pupil is a fantastic way to support the adults around a child or young person to work together to provide a physically and emotionally safe environment across the school day.

Video Enhanced Reflective Practice (VERP)

This is an attachment based coaching approach which has been shown to be highly effective for young people and professionals. It focuses on recognising and building upon strength to develop and strengthen key relationships. The approach supports children, young people and their parents, carers and teachers to understand positive aspects of behaviour and to improve communication skills through positive shared experiences. See more information here: VIG factsheet

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) Training

The ELSA programme builds the capacity of schools to support the emotional needs of their pupils. Having an ELSA in your school will mean you are able to offer interventions and planned programmes of support to children experiencing emotional, social and behavioural difficulties. See more information here: ELSA P&TS

Restorative Justice

Restorative Practice is a non-adversarial approach to conflict resolution. Taking a restorative approach in settings is reported to be highly effective in reducing bullying, truancy and exclusion.

Learning objectives for the last session were as follows:

To introduce participants to Restorative Interventions
To develop understanding of value and role in developing inclusive practice of Restorative Interventions
To develop and practise Restorative Intervention skills processes
To give an opportunity to reflect on professional practice

Trauma Informed Care and Trauma Responsive Practice

Organisational support. We can support services and settings in their goal to become trauma-aware and trauma-responsive. We can do this through a package of training, support to examine policies and procedure, imbedding of reflective supervision, and more.
Guidance is available to support settings in thinking about trauma-responsive practice and how to imbed some of these principles. Please see a link to download this below.

Trauma Responsive Practice Guidance for Schools
PDF932KB

KS3/4 Emotion Coaching

Emotion coaching is a whole-school staff approach which increases emotional literacy across adults and young people, giving greater confidence to have conversations around emotional regulation, through the use of ‘scripts’ which enables greater consistency of adult responses. If you are a trauma-informed school, and want to take that next step, Emotion Coaching is ideal for you.

Although the free Emotion Coaching for Suffolk schools has ended now, any interested school can purchase Emotion Coaching training through Psychology and Therapeutic Service’s traded offer, this can be book online.

Interventions and support

"I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without this"- feedback shared by a parent/carer

Interventions and support for families and parents

Interventions and support for children and young people

Interventions and support for settings and schools