Resilience For Kids
Resilience For Kids
For resilient, healthy & happy children
Resilience For Kids is a wellbeing programme for children and young people. I use a range of evidence-based practices that enhance the success of my sessions including CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), Clinical hypnotherapy, NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) and Havening Techniques® .
I can help your child with a wide range of issues including:
Confidence & Self-Esteem
Anger Management
School problems
Panic attacks
Anxiety
Phobias
Resilience For Kids Workshop
I deliver a half-day workshop called “Brave Minds: Understanding and Managing Anxiety” which is designed to help children understand exactly what is going on in their brain when they experience anxiety or stress. I teach them about the role of the amygdala in activating the fight, flight response and how this effects them mentally, physically and emotionally. I do this in a fun and interactive way with the help of three unique characters Amy (Amygdala), P.C. (Prefrontal Cortes) and H.C.(Hippocampus).
I help them understand :
Why they sometimes feel anxious or worried.
Why they overreact and sometimes say or do things that they might later regret.
Why they sometimes can’t think straight, and their minds go blank when they are feeling anxious or a bit stressed out.
Why they find it hard to calm down and quiet their minds when they want to sleep at night.
Why they need to be kind to themselves when they make mistakes.
Once they understand how and why they are having these feelings, I teach them some powerful and effective techniques to help them calm their mind and body and overcome their day-to-day challenges.
“Trying to teach a stressed mind is like pouring water into a full glass:
it can’t absorb any more until it’s emptied.”
I enlist the support of teachers by encouraging them to deliver a ten-minute visualisation which I created to help children get into a calm and relaxed state at the beginning of each day. The short guided visualisation incorporates five tools which I found to be most effective and impactful in dealing with anxiety and eliciting a state of relaxation in my clinic. This short daily practice ensures that the children are in an optimal state for learning and retaining information.
Over time, through the process of neuroplasticity, this daily practice lowers the anxiety threshold and makes a massive difference to children’s ability to self-regulate their emotions.
My Mission
To develop in children the resilience they require to experience the world as fully as possible, with all its pain and all its joys.
That trait that will allow them to rise above difficult circumstances to exist in this less-than-perfect world while moving forward with confidence and optimism.
I tap into children’s flexible, inventive, playful nature to deliver an enjoyable, impactful learning experience.
I foster children’s well-being through programs based on neuroscience and mindful practice.
My Philosophy
I present the skills and knowledge in a relaxed, fun, and engaging way, using activities that tap into the children’s natural curiosity and playful nature.
This approach is based on the most up-to-date scientific research that tells us that a child’s emotional state when learning something gets anchored to the learning.
I believe that through the power of neuroplasticity, all children, including those who were exposed to adverse life experiences, can develop the skills set necessary to improve their mental, emotional, social, and physical health and well-being and transform their lives in meaningful ways.
My Structure
In developing the Resilience For Kids program, I began by organising the most up-to-date research and best practice into six categories, crucial to developing resilience: coping, competence, confidence, connection, character, and contribution.
Many of these categories are borrowed from some of the great experts in the field of Neuroscience and Positive Psychology, including Kenneth Ginsburg, Daniel Siegel, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Rick Little, Richard Davidson, Donna Eden and Rick Hanson to name but a few.
Competence
“If you want to be successful, don’t seek success – seek competence... do nothing short of the best that you can do.” Jaggi Vasudev
Competence describes the sense of knowing that you can handle a situation effectively. Competence is acquired through experience. Children can’t become competent without first developing a set of skills that allows them to trust their judgments, make responsible choices, and face difficult situations.
I help children understand exactly what is going on in their brain when they experience anxiety or stress.
I teach them about the role of the amygdala in activating the fight, flight response.
I teach them relaxation techniques including Diaphragmatic Breathing and visualisations to enhance wellness and resilience.
I teach them a number of techniques including Havening and Anchoring to help calm them down whenever they are feeling stressed or anxious.
I teach them that there will always be stress in their lives and to view stress as an important tool that can aid in their survival.
Confidence
“With realization of one’s own potential and self-confidence in one’s ability, one can build a better world.” - Dali Lama
Confidence is closely linked to competence. When children experience competence, they gain confidence. Children who lack confidence are often reluctant to try new things because they are afraid of failing or disappointing others.
I support children in developing the confidence to cope with challenges, to try new ventures, and trust their abilities to make sound choices.
I teach them to be aware of their body language to help them feel strong and confident.
I help children see the best in themselves.
I give them opportunities to test their abilities and stretch their comfort zone in fun and playful ways.
I teach them the importance of caring for their bodies through exercise, good nutrition, and adequate sleep.
I teach them the importance of being adaptable, of trying out different strategies until they find the one that works.
Character
“The content of your character is your choice. Day by day, what you choose, what you think, and what you do is who you become.” - Heraclitus
Children need a basic understanding of right and wrong to help them make wise choices, contribute to the world, and become stable adults. Children with character experience a strong sense of self-worth. They are more comfortable sticking to their own values and demonstrating a caring attitude to other people.
I help them gain an understanding of how their behaviour affects other people;
I help them clarify their own values;
I encourage them to consider right versus wrong;
I teach them about perspective-taking and encourage them to think with an open mind, to pause and consider other viewpoints;
I explore the prerequisites for healthy relationships, including tolerance and acceptance;
I teach them about the positive benefits of practicing fairness, integrity, persistence, and kindness.
Contribution
“It is a powerful lesson when children realize that the world is a better place because they are in it.” - Kenneth Ginsburg
Helping children understand the importance of personal contribution helps them gain a sense of purpose and motivation. Encouraging them to contribute to their communities helps them achieve autonomy, identity, and connection – important milestones on their journey to adulthood.
I teach children that many people in the world lack the basic human needs.
I teach children about the value of serving others.
I teach children about ways they can improve the world.
I create opportunities for each child to perform acts of kindness.
I encourage children to look for role models who contribute to their communities and the world.
Connection
“Deep human connection is... the purpose and the result of a meaningful life – and it will inspire the most amazing acts of love, generosity, and humanity.”
Melinda Gates
Close bonds to family, friends, school, and community provide stability and attention, essential to healthy child development and fostering resilience. Family is the central force in any child’s life, but connection to civic, educational, religious, and athletic groups can also increase a child’s sense of belonging, happiness, and wellbeing. Some strategies we use to develop connection include:
Showing empathy, by letting them know that their experiences and perspectives are important.
Acknowledging their feelings and emotions.
Having fun and playing together.
Giving them our full attention.
Ensure that they feel seen, heard and valued.
Encouraging them to see and feel things from another’s point of view.
Encouraging them to express their emotions.
Coping
“Remember, you alone get to choose what matters and what doesn’t. The meaning of everything in your life has precisely the meaning you give it.”
Marc Chernoff
Learning to cope effectively with stress helps children be better prepared to overcome life’s challenges. They need to become competent at coping if they are to be resilient.