I am currently the Co-Founder, Lead Intervention worker and counsellor of a business called Youth Intervention Centre aimed at providing 1:1 specialist intervention and counselling services to young people aged 5-25 years old. Previous to this I worked at a Alternative Provision School in Devon.This is a school that takes students who have been permanently excluded from mainstream school due to challenging behaviours. I worked as a Specialist Teaching Assistant for Therapeutic Intervention supporting students (ages 5-16) who have emotional, social and behavioural needs both in and out of school. I was also the lead mentor and helped to provide pastoral support to all of our students. Previous to this I spent 18 months working as the Autism Specialist at a large mainstream school. I took responsibility for the majority of students at the school who were ASC or who presented with traits of ASC. I held regular social skill sessions with them and ran a buddy club at lunch times to further help build social skills and develop a sense of safety and well-being.
I'm not big on the whole academic side of teaching! The type of students I work with are never going to be able to fully engage with their academics unless we begin to address some of their other needs first. I love to support students with their SEMH (social, emotional and mental health), behavioural and well-being needs through relationship building, play, exploration, trust, respect and by creating a safe and nurturing environment. I'm also training to become and counsellor (in my last year of training now) and use the skills I've learnt from this frequently with the young people and their families which I work with.
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I went to Swansea University where I studied Ancient History and Egyptology. Somehow I got a 2:1 at the end of three years! Woop! Since University I have been on countless training courses run by the Devon Communication and Interaction team relating to Autism and I have completed my Level 1 Connected Kids certificate in mindfulness and meditation for children and young people. I also have a level 2 and 3 certificate in counselling skills and am now undertaking my level 4 diploma to qualify me as a Counsellor and Psychotherapist. I have also undertaken a Mindfulness course for young people aged 12-18 with the British Mindfulness Institute and am also a certified Mental Health First Aider for Youth!
Website:Youth Intervention Centre Website
Facebook: Youth Intervention Centre Facebook page
Instagram: Youth Intervention Centre Instagram