Therapeutic Support

All students and families have access to qualified therapeutic and family support staff. On our team we have experienced Psychological Therapists, Child and Adolescent Counsellors, Art Psychotherapists, Forensic Psychologists and Assistant Psychologists. Our well-established and experienced Family Support Team consists of a Senior Social Worker, a Duty Designated Safeguarding Lead and Family Support Workers. We have also recruited a trained Therapy Dog, Ella, onto our team, who helps to regulate children during break times and is able to attend children’s therapy sessions. We are qualified professionals able to provide a range of interventions at a number of levels, including:  

• Direct work and therapies with young people 
• Trauma-focussed and informed CPD for all staff  
• Systemic interventions with families 
• Advice and consultation 
• Joint work with other agencies 
• Supervision and support with interventions and PSHE cross-Trust 
• A Trust-wide on-call system to support staff and children when they need it most  

We are in a unique position to promote well-being and good mental health. We believe it is important to create an environment that encourages well-being and resilience and we have developed therapeutic provision as a key part of this. 

A range of interventions at a family, school and individual level are available dependent on need. Successful interventions in school focus upon positive behaviour and group interventions, combining instructional strategies with behavioural management, for example teaching social and emotional skills such as conflict resolution and problem-solving. 

We offer psychological therapies for individuals or groups (e.g. CBT, psychotherapies) as the primary intervention for mental health or conduct problems, as they have a strong evidence base. This is to reduce aggressive behaviour, increase pro-social interactions, and ensure that our pupils feel they have a safe space to speak to a trusted and trained therapist if they feel they would benefit from this. 

We have welcoming and dedicated therapeutic rooms in each Centre across the Trust with bookable space. In Spring 2023, our new therapeutic centre based at Stephenson Academy on our Crosslands site was officially opened, complete with fully equipped and comfortable rooms for group work, art therapies, family meetings and counselling. 

We value staff training and professional development to ensure staff knowledge and skills are updated and supported. 

If you or your child need any support, or you would like to discuss anything linked to support for your child or family, then please contact Katrina Harris, Therapeutic Lead by ringing the Academy directly.