Our services

 

At WHSS we have an extensive therapeutic offer. Staff across the foundation have had training to understand the impact of relational and developmental trauma on children’s development and a psychologically informed approach is used to understand children and young people’s needs.

 

The health, family and therapy team have staff trained in various modalities; including psychotherapy; EMDR; clinical psychology; systemic and family therapy; counselling; creative psychotherapies; speech and language therapy, occupational therapy and sensory integration. Many of the team are trained in Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP) and use these principles within their work. The team offers individual, dyadic (parent/carer and child), family and group therapy.

  

Dramatherapy
 

Dramatherapy is a dynamic form of Creative Psychotherapy that uses theatre and drama techniques to help young people explore their emotions and experiences.

A Dramatherapist may employ various tools such as props, masks, puppets, and art materials, alongside play processes, to promote psychological well-being. Myths and stories are central to the approach, offering alternative perspectives and emotional exploration. As a safe, indirect therapy, Dramatherapy is often child-centered and works through metaphor and play to support emotional healing and growth.

Music Therapy

 

Music therapy at WHSS is a psychodynamic, child-led approach that uses improvisation with a variety of instruments to help young people express and explore emotions. Through both verbal and non-verbal interactions, music therapy provides a safe space to process strong feelings and trauma. The use of music technology also allows clients to create, record, and reflect on their own music, supporting self-esteem and creative expression. This therapy fosters emotional understanding, empathy, and social skills such as turn-taking and body language awareness.

Art Psychotherapy
 

Art Psychotherapy at WHSS is a dynamic, three-way process involving the therapist, the client, and the art-making experience. It allows children to safely explore and express their emotions and experiences through creative expression, particularly benefiting those who struggle with verbal communication or have experienced trauma. The process can involve playful elements like stories and metaphors, helping children process complex emotions. Symbols and art-making within a secure therapeutic relationship play a crucial role in making sense of early trauma and developing emotional resilience.

Dance Movement Psychotherapy

 

Dance Movement Psychotherapy (DMP) offers therapeutic interventions centered around movement and the body. This approach considers a child’s physical experience as a key part of their emotional and psychological well-being. Through DMP, children have the opportunity to explore their thoughts about themselves, their relationships, and their emotional and non-verbal responses, particularly those that may be difficult to express with words. This embodied therapy helps foster self-awareness and deeper emotional understanding.

Group Sessions

 

Psychotherapy Groups
Psychotherapy groups are co-facilitated by two therapists of different modalities, creating combined arts-based therapy groups.  The sessions are intended to be playful, making use of image-making, musical instruments, drama games, movement and a whole host of play processes.  The work can be long term and focusses on relationship building, improving self-esteem and improving the boys’ ability to function more healthily in groups.


Skills Based Therapy Groups
Shorter term, skills-based groups focus on a particular need. Within these sessions, support staff from class are encouraged to be part of the group process. The intent being that any progress that emerges from the group interactions can be developed further within children’s day to day life around school.

  

Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing 

 

EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing) uses eye movement and bi-lateral stimulation to help clients process traumatic memories. It is beneficial to those experiencing symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and can also be adapted to work with complex trauma (multiple traumatic experiences). EMDR can work well for older adolescents and adults, and can be adapted to use with younger children. It is an evidence based treatment recognised by NICE.

Family Based Therapies & Support

 

Dyadic Developmental Practice
DDP (Dyadic Developmental Practice) is a therapy approach and model for practice that uses attachment and developmental trauma theory to help children and families with their relationships. The approach is family-based and involves the child and their parent, carer or other significant adult.
 
Systemic Family Therapy
Recognising the importance of supporting the network around the student, the systemic family therapy team - consisting of a systemic family therapist and a family practitioner—offer therapeutic support to parents and carers. By helping parents and carers to think about how the family fits together, the team can help facilitate ways of better understanding one another and the ways they communicate with each other. We know that the families connected to the school are often manging greater complexities and challenges than most. We offer a non-judgemental space where we understand that families are doing the best they can at that point in time.  Our family therapist also offers interventions based on Theraplay and Non-Violent Resistance.
 
Family Counselling
The family team also offer Counselling to parents or carers, to talk about and explore their worries, concerns and experiences. Person Centred counselling is a humanistic approach encouraging parents and carers to bring their own issues to sessions. Counselling is person led, offering a non-judgmental safe space, empathic understanding, and guidance. Sessions support parents and carers to explore their own issues, feelings, beliefs, behaviours, and worldview. This can help clients to become more self-aware, achieve greater independence, and to discover personal solutions to their problems. 

Psychology and Consultancy 

 

Mental Health Consultancy
We have a mental health consultant who visits us regularly to support staff and offer consultancy about high risk clients, such as those experiencing suicidal thoughts or significant self-harm. 

 

Clinical Psychology
The therapy team at The Smith Foundation are also supported by the expertise of two consultant Clinical Psychologists. Staff are able to think about the children who present with more complex mental health issues with the Psychologist, gain advice and create treatment plans. Our psychologists can also offer parent support and advice.