Our Handbooks
Pastoral Handbook for Children
Pastoral Handbook for Adolescents and Young Adults
SEN Handbooks: for Children or for Adolescents and Young Adults
Our Targeted Interventions
Our CBT and SEN Specialist Training
Questions about our resources
Our resources are based on the most common techniques used in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy plus techniques commonly used in coaching.
What is CBT?
CBT is a combination of the Cognitive and Behaviourist psycho-dynamic approaches, giving us Cognitive Behavioural Therapy!
The basic principles are that if we learn how to manage our negative thoughts and practise positive thoughts, we can improve our mental wellbeing. CBT is a “talking” therapy – it’s NOT the psycho-dynamic approach of “…I will tell you what’s wrong with you…”; it’s based on working through processes to challenge thinking.
CBT is not an instant fix; it has to be practised in order to become habit – for new pathways to develop fully in the brain. There is also personal responsibility involved – you have to want to change and be prepared to try new things.
It’s also important to develop a “feedback, not failure” mindset – not everything is going to work first time! If trying something new doesn’t work the first way, try it a different way the next time or try something else! Any mistakes we make are always reframed as “feedback”.
Is CBT recommended for use with children?
Our resources are CBT based, and modified to be appropriate for children.
CBT is recommended for use with children aged 6 and above – modified where necessary.
The Department for Education (DfE) recommends the use of CBT and CBT based resources in schools with students.
Do staff have to be qualified to use CBT?
If staff were working therapeutically in a professional manner with students, they would need to be qualified.
However, our CBT based resources are pre-written and prescriptive, so staff do not have to be qualified to use them. A great many resources written for use in education by staff are prescriptive and underpinned by CBT.
Can it go wrong?
Even when used by professionals CBT has very few “side-effects”.
In terms of possible side effects using our resources with students, they are minimal. If students don’t want to engage, they won’t. It’s non-analytical so it won’t bring up any difficult issues from the past.
It may well challenge students to step outside of their comfort zone which can cause some discomfort, but this is managed and part of the process, and part of daily life.
As is the case with any conversations with students, disclosures and concerns should be dealt with using the safeguarding procedures.
How effective is CBT?
CBT isn’t for everyone. However, simply put CBT works for most of the people, most of the time. CBT is one of the most successful forms of therapy and is widely used including in the NHS. One of the reasons it is so successful is because it doesn’t work on a “let’s analyse you” basis. It works on where you are now, and how you can move forward.
If you have questions about our resources, please Contact Us