Nurture:
Therapy & Family Wellness
Services
Assessments
Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI)
Sensory Attachment Intervention (SAI) supports those children who experience regulation difficulties and experience fight, flight, freeze or dissociation. SAI has been developed by occupational therapist, Eadaoin Bhreathnach, as an integrative approach to the treatment of children and adults who have experienced early life trauma. At Nurture: Therapy & Family Wellness, we use an SAI approach and support children between the ages of 6-12 years of age. The assessment tools we use include the SAAP (Sensory, Arousal state, Attachment and Physiological Profile form) and the CAPA (Child Attachment and Play Assessment) to guide our support and Just Right State Intervention.
Child Attachment and Play Assessment (CAPA)
The Child Attachment and Play Assessment (CAPA) is an assessment for children aged between 3-11 years of age and has been developed by Dr Steve Farnfield. It combines Crittenden’s attachment model (The Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment) and Winnicott’s 'play, reality and potential space' to show how a child thinks and navigates their relationships with their main caregivers. The assessment is with the child and trained CAPA practitioner, and uses a doll-house and figures. The CAPA practitioner starts a family based story (the stem) and asks the child to 'show and tell me what happens next'.
Meaning of The Child (MoTC)
The Meaning of the Child Interview (MOTC) is a semi-structured interview developed by Dr Ben Grey, to explore what the child means to the parent and to gain an understanding of the connection and any risk in the parent - child relationship. The MOTC is based in attachment theory and explores the complexity of human relationships, and the multiple challenges parents and caregivers face in trying to protect, comfort and nurture their children. At times, the caregiver may feel there are struggles within their relationship with the child, and the MOTC explores how and why the struggles exist, and how the parent - child relationship can be supported and improved. During the interview, the caregiver is asked to talk and explore their relationship with their child, and also their own experiences of being parented.
Intervention
Play and Creative Arts Therapy
Play and creative arts therapy is a form of psychotherapy used to support children and young people (4-18 yrs) to make sense of their life experiences, explore their feelings and express themselves through their natural medium of play and creative arts, meaning they do not need to talk if they do not want to.
Through play and creative arts, children and young people are supported to find an inner resolution to become more able to deal with or adjust to problems. Play and creative arts therapy is beneficial for children and young people experiencing a wide range of emotional, behavioural and mental health issues including trauma, anxiety, depression, family difficulties, neurodiversity and social challenges.
We recommend a minimum of 12 sessions.
Just Right State (JRS) Programme
JRS is a supportive, play‑based approach for families whose child finds it hard to manage their emotions, energy levels, or behaviour. This might include becoming overwhelmed, very active, withdrawn, or struggling to calm down after big feelings.
In six JRS sessions, you and your child take part in guided play activities together. These activities use movement, touch, and the senses, and may include equipment such as gym balls, trampolines, tunnels, clay, and food‑based play. Sessions are designed to feel fun, safe, and engaging, rather than clinical.
Through play, you and your child are gently guided through different levels of energy and emotion — for example, moving from feeling very active or overwhelmed to feeling calmer and more organised. The aim is to help your child learn how to calm and regulate themselves first with your support, and over time, more independently.
JRS focuses on strengthening your relationship with your child. By sharing positive, supported experiences together, children learn that their caregiver can help them feel safe and regulated. Many families find this builds confidence, connection, and a better understanding of their child’s behaviour, and you are supported in six additional sessions with the JRS lead, to explore your child’s feelings, emotions and how they organise themselves.
JRS - A School-Based Play-Focused Support Approach
JRS is a school‑based, play‑focused approach for children who find it hard to manage emotions, energy levels, or behaviour. This may include becoming overwhelmed, highly active, withdrawn, or struggling to calm after strong emotions.
The programme includes six guided sessions delivered in school with the child’s supportive school adult, using play, movement, and sensory activities such as gym balls, tunnels, clay, and food‑based play. Sessions are designed to feel safe, engaging, and supportive.
Through play, children are gently supported to move from higher levels of arousal to calmer, more organised states, helping them develop emotional regulation skills that support learning and engagement in school.
Caregivers are also offered sessions with the JRS lead to explore the child’s emotional needs to promote consistency between home and school.
Direct Work - Children & Parents/Caregivers
A practitioner led approach that uses evidence-based tools to provide support to children and/or parents who have experienced trauma or challenging life events. This short-term intervention supports in the understanding of these events and offers the development of coping mechanisms to move forward in a happier and healthier way.
Parent Groups/Support
Parenting is one of the hardest jobs in the world and in order to thrive, it is important to recognise the challenges that parenting can bring and manage those effectively. Parent support is available both 1-1 and within a group setting to provide parents and caregivers an opportunity to explore parenting styles, insight into their own experiences of ‘being parented’ and tools & strategies to improve their family life.
Training
(Bespoke training packages available upon request)
Regulation Difficulties in Children
Children with regulation difficulties present as hyper-vigilant, they may shut out feelings, present as defiant, and at times be angry, cling to caregivers and are fearful of being left out or keep busy to avoid intimacy. These survival responses, fight, flight, and freeze - are the body’s response to fear. This training explores why regulation difficulties often occur in relationships (at home, with peers, in schools) and practically how they can be supported through sensory activities. Participants on this training will explore how to support a child through the use of sensory activities and foods.
Attachment Theory and Attachment Strategies
Attachment theory is a psychological theory that explains how children form emotional bonds, with their primary caregiver and attachment strategies is how the child psychologically and physiologically naviagates their relationship in order to obtain comfort and protection from their caregiver. This training explores why attachment theory is so important in understanding the child’s need for comfort and protection and through the Dynamic Maturational Model of Attachment and Adaption (DMM) we explore the key attachment strategies and there function within a relationship.
Compulsive Compliance in Children
Recent serious case reviews has highlighted the number of children seriously hurt or killed by caregivers who use a compulsively compliant attachment strategy. Children using a compulsive compliant try to protect themselves from danger by inhibiting negative affect (feelings, emotions, behaviour) and by doing what they believe their caregiver wants them to do due to fear of what their often anger and aggressive caregivers may do. This training explores how the child's psychologically perceives their relationship, how the child physiologically responds to the fear of danger and the interventions and therapy available for the child, and caregiver.
Working More Therapeutically
Offering those who work directly with children & young people some insight into a more therapeutic approach and the benefits this can provide.
Introduction to Play Therapy
A deeper insight into the world of Play Therapy and how it can transform the lives of the children and young people you work with.