Supporting children's mental health and wellbeing has always been a priority at Christ Church. We recognise that a child needs to feel happy, safe and secure in order to thrive and learn effectively.

What is Drawing and Talking Therapy?

Drawing and Talking is a therapeutic intervention for children that helps with underlying emotional difficulties that may be affecting learning and behaviour. The child works with the same person, in the same place each week for a total of 12 weeks. Each session lasts 30 minutes. The core of the method is for the child to draw and the adult asks non-intrusive questions about the drawing. Drawing and Talking stays in the world of the child’s drawing. The child sets the pace and decides what to bring to the session. Once they feel safe, their imagination begins to unfold. This enables them to express their worries and thoughts in a visual form.

Drawing and Talking is designed as a short-term pro-active intervention intended to complement, rather than replace, the work of Specialist Mental Health Services such as CAMHS.

Children that will benefit from this intervention:

• Not realising their full potential either academically or socially
• Is at risk of being /is excluded from school
• Has suffered trauma
• Is/or in the process of being adopted or fostered
• Suffers because of separated or divorced parents
• Suffers from anxiety, stress or phobias
• Has suffered a loss or bereavement of any kind
• Is withdrawn or continually unhappy
• Finds it difficult to make friends
• Is ill, disabled or autistic
• Displays inappropriate behaviour
• Doesn’t play

Who leads Drawing and Talking at Christ Church?

Mrs Smith - Our school Pastoral Leader.

Mrs Smith has recently completed intense training and is now qualified to deliver the Drawing and Talking intervention.

How are children referred?

For further information, or to refer your child, please speak to Mrs Smith (Pastoral Leader), Mrs Till or Mrs MacDonald (Our school SENDCOs) and/or your child's class teacher. In order to access the provision, a signed school referral form is required.