Families Growing Together
Heidi Pannell
SERVICES
Theraplay
Theraplay is a powerful therapeutic intervention which builds on the positive relationship between parent and child. Theraplay involves adult led play-based sessions with the parent/carer and child together which works at the level of attachment, the brain and the nervous system. After initial sessions with the parent/carer, direct Theraplay sessions with the child begins. Theraplay involves fun and engaging activities through which the child feels good about themselves and their relationships, and gets the message they are deeply seen, accepted and appreciated. Theraplay helps to soothe and calm the child and increase their internalised safety and trust with positive impacts on regulation, attachment and coping. Alongside direct Theraplay sessions with the child, Theraplay also involves regular sessions with the parent/carer focussed on psycho-education and therapeutic parenting support.
Therapeutic Parenting Support
Therapeutic parenting support helps parents/carers develop insight into what is happening with their child and skill in supporting their child and reducing the difficulties. Therapeutic parenting support helps parents/carers become more self reflective; recognising their own emotional processing and triggers in order to increase their capacity to stay grounded and present with their child, even when under the most intense pressure. Therapeutic parenting support helps parents/carers develop skill in recognising and understanding what their child’s underlying needs are and responding to these, rather than reacting to the behaviours. Parent/carers learn techniques and approaches that help, whilst letting go of strategies that don’t work, and through this they gain confidence and skill in their parenting role.
​DDP
DDP is a talking based therapy that can involve different combinations of family members. DDP with adults involves building a therapeutic alliance and providing opportunities for the parent/carer to offload about what they are experiencing and make sense of what is happening. The focus is on building the strength and emotional wellbeing of the parent/carer through understanding and containment. DDP increases insight and self-reflective capacity so parent/carers understand what is happening in interactions with their child, how they are triggered and how they can avoid getting stuck in unhealthy patterns of relating. PACE is a technique taught within DDP to enable parents/carers to get closer to their child, help the child manage their feelings, feel less alone and cope more effectively. DDP enables children and parents’ viewpoints to be shared, heard and empathised with, within a supportive and containing context.
Therapeutic Parenting Courses
I provide therapeutic parenting courses (online or in person) to adoptive parents, foster carers and Special Guardians in all aspects of attachment, trauma, the brain, blocked care, and therapeutic parenting.
Consultation and Training
I provide consultation and training to professionals such as teachers, health care professionals, residential staff and social workers in areas including attachment and trauma, the nervous system, attachment in the classroom, PACE and blocked care.
Supervision
I provide supervision in Theraplay to those looking for support with their practice and for those who have joined the Theraplay practicum and are progressing through foundational stage.