Therapeutic work in schools: a workshop event

Therapeutic work in schools: neurodivergence, risk and working with the school system

This year's conference is a workshop and networking event bringing together therapists working in school settings to think collaboratively about our work with young people.

Using a psychodynamic lens, the presentations and workshop groups will explore working with neurodivergence, a working model of containment, and how we can work with risk and anxiety in a school setting.

This conference will be of interest to school therapists/counsellors, SENCOs, head teachers, or anyone responsible for supporting the wellbeing of young people who are trained in, or interested in, psychoanalytic models of therapy.

Agenda

Containment within a school system: Exploring the process of working with high need adolescents, risk and safeguarding

Rebecca Whitaker: Brent Centre for Young People Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist.

Ali Kosiner: Brent Centre for Young People Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist.

Drawing on the Brent Centre's clinical model (Adolescent Exploratory Therapy) and its 30 years of experience of delivering therapy within schools, this presentation will explore the layers of containment needed within a school system to manage the risks and anxieties associated with adolescent work. Using the concept of Concentric Circles of containment (Rustin, McLoughlin), the presentation will explore how the ideas of Bion and Winnicot can help inform ways of working within school systems. It will present a working model for discussion. This will be a presentation followed by small group workshops to explore key themes. Attendees can bring their own material for discussion.

Containers containing: Offering support to caregivers of autistic young people within a school setting

Sarah Herman: Brent Centre for Young People Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, Assistant Manager of Schools Service, advanced diploma in neurodiversity informed practice.

Dr Anthony Lee: Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, former member of the multidisciplinary autism team, Tavistock Centre in the Child and Family Department.

This presentation offers a conversation between Sarah and her supervisor, Tony. They will discuss their experiences of facilitating support groups for the caregivers of autistic young people. Tony draws from the work he undertook in a school setting and at the Tavistock Centre. Sarah was asked to facilitate such a group in a secondary school and sought supervision with Tony for its duration.

Together, they will explore the process of forming the group, the themes that arose, and the outcomes, reflecting on the multiple layers of containment involved from supervisor to facilitator, to parents, to the school and ultimately to the young people at the heart of the thinking.

Working in a school system: A panel discussion

Experts leading reflection on themes and issues raised throughout the day:

Jana Duchonova: Senior Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, Head of Schools Service Brent Centre for Young People

Fiona Hendersen: Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, Westminster School Counsellor

Bobbie Cooper: Consultant Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist, Borough Therapy Lead Brent CAMHS

Esther Obiri-Darko: Child, Adolescent & Family Psychodynamic Psychotherapist, School Counsellor South Hampstead High School and Kent College

Adam Kay: Senior Child & Adolescent Psychotherapist & Psychoanalyst, Head of Westminster Centre Brent Centre for Young People

Lunch, coffee and tea will be provided as part of the event. If you have any questions, please email gordana.rodden@brentcentre.org.uk.

Cover image artwork by Helen Zhang.