Therapeutic Approach

Many of the young people Spark of Genius looks after have experienced rejection from previous carers or placements and have great difficulty in attaching, trusting and relating appropriately to others. Spark has a commitment to stand by these young people through their difficulties and work with them and others to transform their lives.

Assessment

Each child or young person is individually assessed and quality information regarding behaviours is collected which allow staff to understand triggers or protective factors for each individual. The assessment is completed by key workers and significant others in the young person’s life and is overseen by our psychology team. From this information a plan is designed and implemented to support the young person in identified areas of difficulty. The success of this plan is monitored by the psychology team who can become more directly involved whenever necessary.

Therapeutic approach

Experience in the residential sector in particular has shown that simply containing vulnerable young people is relatively easy. The challenge is to provide a healing therapeutic environment which introduces a different belief system for these young people. These beliefs about themselves others and the world can transform the inner thinking of the young people and consequently impact positively on their behaviours. This transformational change is effected through staff expertise in the use of the Every Second Counts (ESC). All staff are trained in ESC which incorporates theories including Rogerian counselling, NLP Change Theory and Positive Attribution Theory. Put more simply everyday interactions at the park, in the car or in the supermarket become opportunities for dynamic change in possibilities for a young person. The creation of a therapeutic environment where young people can learn to trust themselves and others effectively promotes long term change in the lives of these disrupted and vulnerable young people.

The Every Second Counts approach recognises that for some young people traditional ‘talk therapies’ are not the only answer. Many of our young people do not engage with adults they don’t know, nor do they have much experience of using emotional language to reflect on their difficulties. However all young people on admission are made aware that we have a psychology team and that they can at any time request individual support from the team. For those that show an interest in this service and who are able to explore thoughts and feelings more directly, we can deliver a range of direct and online approaches including CBT, counselling, solution oriented approaches, NLP, play, group and equine therapy.

Working with others

Spark of Genius values collaborative working and has strong links with Social Work, Psychological Services, CAMHS and health professionals. Working with parents of young people in our care can positively affect outcomes for the young people. Using a nationally acclaimed parenting programme adapted to include the core aspects of Every Second Counts approach the psychology team can deliver to parents a programme that reduces the impact of previous negative family dynamics. This greatly improves relations on home leave and prepares the family and the young person for the reintegration in the family if this is possible.