Our Children's Potential » Uncategorized

School Services

Kerrie — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:36:09 +0000

At ‘Our Children’s Potential’ we provide an in house service for schools. More and more schools are seeing the benefits of having a service that provides Counselling and Play Therapy.

Who May Benefit?

The service will benefit children and young people who are suffering from low self esteem, seem anxious and worried, suffering from bereavement, aggressive or withdrawn. All these issues are likely to have a knock on effect on the students learning, behaviour, attendance and wellbeing.

How it Works

Once a referral is made, an assessment is made to ascertain suitability of the creative therapy. An initial evaluation is made to assess the number of sessions the child may have. Some work is short term some children/young person may benefit from long term work. Goodman’s strengths and difficulties questionnaires (SDQ) are used as an assessment tool, alongside a parent interview. The SDQ’s have been completed by parent, referrer and the child and will be used as an assessment tool both pre and post intervention. Play Therapy is a recognised and scientifically proved intervention. Sometimes the child/young person may wish to work more verbally, so the session will be more like a counselling session. However, if the child is drawn to the creative mediums then Non directive Play Therapy will be used using creative mediums such as sand trays, puppets, clay, Therapeutic storytelling, music and Arts and crafts. The child is given a confidential and permissive space to where he/she can explore their world and give expression to feelings via the creative mediums.

What is Included in the Service?

An hour a week with the referred child/young person using counselling and Play Therapy techniques
Group Play Therapy
Assessment of child :Observation, Interview and using SDQ assessment tool
Report writing to external agencies
Telephone calls to Parents and School
Meetings with head/Deputy Head/SENCO
Referral Interviews
Parental Interviews
Referral Reviews
Parental Reviews
Session planning
Setting up time
Cleaning up after session
Providing kit e.g Sand, Clay, paper, paints, felt tips, crayons, puppets, books, miniatures, blankets, toys and sand trays for sessions.
External supervision
PTUK membership/BACP membership
Insurance

If you or your school are interested in this service, or you may wish for me to give a talk at your school please do not hesitate in contacting me.

How I Work

Kerrie — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:32:53 +0000

My intention when I work with children and young people is how can I help this child? How can I help to alleviate their pain, confusion or trauma? How can I help this child give expression and a voice to what is troubling them? How can I help them move through life with confidence, strength and well being. My aim is to be alongside them in their world. How does their world looks, feel and sound from their frame of reference. What is their story? How can I help them reach their potential and celebrate their individuality.
I am dual trained in play therapy and counselling. Therefore I am able to work with traditional methods of a talking therapy working cognitively whilst also honouring children/young people’s natural language of play and creativity. I work within the ethical framework of the BACP (British association of counselling and psychotherapists) and PTUK (Play Therapy United Kingdom).
I offer a confidential and non-judgmental service using counselling reflective techniques whilst working creatively using the mediums of paint, clay, puppets, sand trays, therapeutic story- telling, music, dance and movement and creative visualisation. Children and young people can sometimes feel stuck or they can suppress their feelings. The arts allow a child/young person an outlet to express their feelings. When feelings are understood and expressed change and growth can happen and allow a new sense of self to emerge.
I am north -west based and I work in schools, GP surgery’s and in my own private settings based in Liverpool. I am also willing to travel to client’s homes and this is by specific arrangement only. I accept referrals from parents, schools, GP services, agencies and children’s centres. As well as one to one work, I also work with groups of children and young people. Group work can be very powerful. It can help to facilitate communication, peer relations and a sense of belonging and understanding. Groups can involve siblings, peers and parents.
I also work in co ordination with schools to set up a service that suit the needs of the school and the children, please see the separate section on this.

Welcome

Kerrie — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 18:28:53 +0000

Our Children’s Potential was founded by Director of Services Kerrie McCullough. It was set up to deliver and promote the well being and potential of children and young people where it is most in need.

Kerrie is a counsellor, hypnotherapist and creative therapist. Kerrie is trained in Play therapy. She has worked in schools, children’s centres and charities as a counsellor and creative therapist. She has worked with many different issues such as ADHD, loss and bereavement, anxiety, bullying and children on the autistic spectrum. Kerrie worked as a children’s counsellor focussing specifically with children/young people who had experienced Trauma, Domestic violence and Sexual Abuse. She is a member of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists and also Play Therapy United Kingdom.

Kerrie has also worked for a large government organisation as an adult counsellor. She also delivers training workshops on stress management, confidence and young people keeping safe in the community. She also runs workshops on visualisation and meditation for children and adults.