Therapeutic Services

Our Therapeutic Services team work with both the individual learner as well as parents in a holistic way, both in Centre and in our schools. The service comprises of counsellors, a Therapeutic Services Co-ordinator, two Emotional Literacy Support Assistants (ELSAs), two Sandy Souls Practioners and a Drawing and Talking Practitioner, together with access  and signposting to further services.  To access these services please complete an Outreach and Therapeutic Services Referral form, which can be found on the right-hand side of this page.

The Centre actively promotes the Hertfordshire Tiered Approach to improving and supporting emotional wellbeing and behaviour in schools and places Hertfordshire's Therapeutic Thinking (Steps) at the heart of its practices.
 

DESC Counselling for Children and Young People

This service is open to children and young people attending DESC and Dacorum schools

• Available for all children attending DESC
• Available to all pupils in Dacorum via schools
  • Sessions have a cost attached
  • Can be purchased on a week by week basis, removing the need to buy a term in advance
• DESC ensures the service is responsive and avoids the need for waiting lists
• Delivered by the DESC counselling model to enable access to affordable high quality therapeutic services
• Increases access for Dacorum schools to counselling services whilst reducing the costs to these schools 
• Liaises with CAMHS, parents, GP and other services as necessary

 

DESC CBT for Children and Young People

This service is open to children and young people attending DESC and Dacorum schools

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy works by linking the way you think (Cognitive – your thoughts, beliefs and assumptions) with what you do (your Behaviour) and how you feel (Therapy – your emotions).
• Delivered as 10 sessions and has a cost attached.

 

Advanced Drawing and Talking

This service is available to children and young people attending DESC and Dacorum schools.

• Offered to children with a past trauma or life event that is impacting them day to day.
• It is a therapeutic approach offered before counselling as an early intervention.
• Weekly sessions delivered by an advanced D&T Practitioner and has a cost attached.

 

Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA)

This service is available to children and young people attending DESC and Dacorum schools.

• ELSAs are specially trained staff that can offer support for children’s emotional development and has a cost attached.
• ELSAs can help with a range of issues including; loss and bereavement, self-esteem, social skills, friendship issues, relationships, anxiety, conflict and emotional regulation.
• ELSAs access regular supervision from Educational Psychologists.

 

Sandy Souls

This service is available to children and young people attending DESC and Dacorum schools.

• Sandy Souls is non-directive and allows the child to reflect on their experiences (home/school/community) to support their understanding, particularly for those who are not keen to talk or express themselves verbally.
• Sandy Souls is used as a gentle therapeutic approach for children to tell their story and make better sense of their emotional world.
• The programme will consist of six 30 minute sessions and has a cost attached.

 

DESC Counselling for Parents/Carers

This service is open to the parents of children and young people attending DESC or accessing DESC Outreach support

The aim of the service is to meet the needs of the parent/carer to enable them to have capacity to meet the needs of the child/young person

• A confidential service provided by BACP registered counsellors.
• Free service.
• Open ended needs led counselling.
• Weekly sessions to meet the parent/carers’ needs.
• Contact with GP & CMHT with client's permission.

This service is accessed via an internal referral - please speak to your child's link mentor or Outreach caseworker to be referred

 

If you would like to discuss any aspect of support, please contact Kathryn Girdlestone, Therapeutic Services Lead - kgirdlestone@desc.herts.sch.uk

Mobile: 07496 824770  Telephone: 01442 247476 (Option 1)