Our Therapeutic Approach

Our Beliefs

We are firm believers that everyone has the right to experience happiness, and for this reason we often work with the most challenging cases, with excellent results. Many who come to us are seeking long-lasting positive change and real help that will benefit their mental health and overall well-being. Every young person we care for will have full access to our entire team of therapeutic specialists, whenever they need it. We have built a reputation upon working with severe cases of learning disabilities and mental health conditions and have been able to produce results; we do this because we believe every young person deserves a chance to live their life to their fullest potential. Below are the key theories which influence our therapeutic service.

Attachment Theory

We are largely shaped by the work of John Bowlby, who developed attachment theory. Attachment theory focuses on the idea of creating a safe environment, which then becomes a secure base for the young person to explore the world around them. Our facilities have been designed to ensure our young people feel safe, secure, and comfortable in the environment where they are placed. This, in turn, supports them in developing attachments to the adults who care for them, giving them the opportunity and mental strength to experience life in the outside world. As these relationships grow, the young person can be exposed to outside environments in a safer and more secure way and develop independence.

Containment Theory

Containment Theory which is another important therapeutic principle which IDL centres it’s care on. Containment Theory dictates that the “container” – usually a key person in the young person’s life (in this context IDL carers), are able to acknowledge and accept a young person’s distress and makes experiences safe for them. This is done by offering a way to temporarily relieve the young person of their anxiety until they are able to understand it and control it themselves.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy is then used to explore the relationship between the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of our young people, to make them more aware of their triggers and actions. CBT is centred around the idea that it is our thoughts about an event or situation, and not the event itself, which determine our reaction to it. CBT can help young people suffering with a range of problems including; low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder. CBT can result in lower levels of anxiety, “happier” outlook on life and increased self control.

Psychodynamic Principles

Professor D.W. Winnicott developed psychodynamic principles, which focus on the intentions and motives of a young person rather than behaviour and actions alone. Using psychodynamic and psychoanalysis we aim to help our young people understand their emotions and unconscious patterns of their behaviours. Through talking through these feelings, emotions and behaviours in therapy sessions will allow young people to know themselves better and make better decisions for themselves.

Reflective practice

Reflective practice is an important factor within our therapeutic framework. It is important that staff maintain a fluid and up to date flow of information regarding the young people in our care between staff and other relevant stakeholders. We do this through regular team meetings centred focused on our young people. We also use modern digital systems to log the condition of our service user’s moods, incidents, and overall behaviour to produce a detailed report outlining these details every month.