CREATIVE COUNSELLING

Creative activities help to make a safe place for children to experience and express their emotions.They act as a conduit in which children can organise their feelings. It is a way to connect their mind and their body. By using creative activities, it enables them to express their emotions in an indirect way, where they are not in the spotlight, sat uncomfortably in a chair, or maintaining eye contact. There are many activities to try with your child, or counsellor. I use different approaches that are closely matched with your child's best outcomes. What works with one child, may not work with all. Below are some of the activities that I may try with your child.

ILLUSTRATING STORIES

Writing and illustrating a book about themselves, or others in a similar situation, can show amazing results in a session. Through the medium of story language, they can express themselves. The character in the story can be anything that they feel connected to.

RETELLING FAMILIAR STORIES

Using stones enables the child to choose different characters, that best relate to their own feelings by retelling a familiar story. They can use the props to express how they feel. Used across a range of ages and SEN, they can choose from a range of stones from emoticons, affirming stones, or pictures.

STORY MAPS

With speech and language difficulties, ASD, ADHD, anxiety etc can make talking hard. Using a story map can enable children to discuss feelings of events through a timeline of pictures.

SAND and WATER

For some children, playing with sand allows them to express themselves in a tactile way. Similar to water, they can feel the sensations on their skin which acts as a sensory aid. It has an instand calming effect and can help to regulate emotions.

MINDFULNESS ACTIVITIES

Mindfulness is a calming technique that allows us to fully engaged in our moment, aware of our thoughts and feelings, our bodily sensations, breathing. It can help us all relax and manage stress.

RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY

I believe that the child is the most important thing of all. Children are all different and each child needs a bespoke service where they are at the centre. At Whole Circle, we focus on the whole child.

Hereford Learning Hub

CREATIVE COUNSELLING