Specialised Therapies for Local Authorities, Fostering & Adoption Agencies

Dr Earley is versatile in her approach to psychological distress and can work within a range of therapy modalities.

She aims to find the simplest and most effective route to improve wellbeing. Some examples of the therapies Dr Earley has offered are below.

Dr Earley frequently works with Local Authority’s to deliver services to children who for a range of reasons cannot access mainstream services.

She also supports residential children’s homes and provides training and supervision to staff. Some examples of the highly specialised therapies that Dr Earley can offer are below.

Examples of recent commissions with Local Authorities

25 sessions of DDP/Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and assessment for a family funded by Nottingham City Council
10 sessions of Theraplay and assessment for a child and mother for Staffordshire County council
Family assessment for Coventry City Council
Family assessment and Theraplay funded by Manchester Metropolitan Council
Family assessment for Trafford Borough Council

About DDP-Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy

DDP-Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy is family focused and aims to help a child form a more secure attachment with his/her caregivers. The parents or carers are engaged in the therapy process. In a safe, empathic relationship the child can explore hurtful and shameful experiences and importantly learn to experience themselves differently.

Dr Earley trained in DDP/ Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy with Daniel Hughes, the founder of the approach in 2006 at Family Futures in London. She has since done further training and incorporates the principles of DDP/ Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy in her practise with Looked after Children, children in residential care and adopted families.

DDP Case Study

‘Sarah’ was a six year old girl who was adopted by ‘Mike and Jane’. She had previously been in a neglectful family and had been the caregiver for her younger baby brother. Sarah struggled to let this role go when she moved to her new family. She found comfort in taking charge and refused to be cared for like a normal six year old. This led to arguments and frustration for the adopted parents who longed to looked after Sarah. Sarah rejected all their attempts.

In therapy we were able to explore and make sense of Sarah anxieties about being looked after. Her worries were about being abandoned to care for herself again and in-order to survive she ‘took charge’. Sarah also had memories of her early neglectful life and showed us what these were by performing (she loved acting!) plays using the puppets and toys. The parents who were always in the therapy, gained a deeper understanding of Sarah’s early life, as she played out her baby brother crying and no mummy there to help. This enabled them to approach Sarah’s rejections of them differently and Sarah felt better understood. In time Sarah’s rejection of her new parents lessened and her need to take charge reduced. This work took place over 18 sessions.

Theraplay

Theraplay is a form of play therapy. It is designed to improve attachments between parents and children. Theraplay is a playful, fun approach that can enhance development where children have experienced a poor early start to their lives. It is designed to be practiced with a therapist as well as at home. Theraplay practitioners have identified four essential elements for secure attachment:

Appropriate level of structure
Nurture
Engagement
Developmental challenge

Through fun activities a child’s capacity to engage in relationships is enhanced.

Theraplay Case Study

Bertie aged 4 was in foster care as his mother was unable to care for him due to her own mental health needs following the break- up of her relationship with her partner. Bertie was angry with his mother at not being able to care for him and contact sessions between them were difficult.

Theraplay helped Bertie to learn to trust his mother again now that she had received her own therapy. Over time their relationship was built again and steps were put in place to help Bertie return home.