Children live very much in the moment. The work I offer meets the child there…in the moment, just where they are, which may be very different for each session.
Establishing a sense of connection and trust with the child is vital as a starting point and asks for sensitive attunement to the child’s relational capacity moment-by-moment.
I am playful by nature and enjoy meeting children in their authenticity through movement/play, encouraging and supporting the child to explore their body in a safe environment whilst inviting a noticing of what is present for them as they engage.
As we move and play, a need for a re-patterning of missed developmental stages may arise, or for stressful or traumatic experiences to be integrated by the whole system. Again, we listen to the body, inviting, allowing, and supporting movement, as well as creativity-in-imagination and play, to work through to completion and integration, finding resource in the body.
I work with children who are experiencing:
- Behavioral, emotional and social difficulties.
- Learning/developmental difficulties.
- Autism.
- Residue from traumatic life events.
- Anxiety.
- Depression.
- Grief and bereavement.
- Life transitions and changes.
- Medical conditions/interventions (I offer somatically informed support from a non-medical perspective)
- and more…
I do not work directly into ‘issues’ as such but rather, in collaboration with the child, I work to sensitively, intuitively and consciously facilitate and nourish the life-force and possibility of wellness innate to every living being. This possibility is always there…maybe as the faintest whisper, but it is there. My approach is gentle, creative and playful.
‘ L gets so much out of his sessions with Gemma. He is calmer and able to focus for longer periods of time. It is as if he is settling into himself and his life in a way which he was just unable to access prior to Gemma’s sessions. Our days are smoother for us all.’
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Gemma has been working with my young child and I for a few weeks. My child experienced medical trauma during and following birth, including a serious operation at a few days old. They are also PDA autistic and have ADHD.
I sought Gemma’s help as my child has never slept well or for long, and has been in a state of distress for most of their life. Within only a few sessions, they are much, much calmer than they have ever been in their life before, and finally able to enjoy life and relationships with other people. Gemma has also helped me tremendously to feel calm and better able to cope with full time caring.
Gemma is kind and gentle, and a very intuitive therapist. I would highly recommend her to anyone.’
“I’m so very thankful that we found you.. It feels like you saw everything there was to see and R gained so much from last session. She got in the car and then talked all the way home. Like there was freedom and she was not holding so tight. I see a huge softening for her after each session with you. Thank you for offering her this special space.”
For children, the sessions take place with a parent/caregiver present. Generally the parent/caregiver is present but in the background…listening and witnessing from a distance. It is sometimes beneficial that the parent/caregiver play an active role in the session.
Sessions take place in my studio near Kendal, Cumbria. Outdoor sessions can be arranged with prior consultation. Remote sessions via Zoom are not offered for young children.
Cost: £50 for up to one hour.
I am DBS checked and adhere to the ISMETA code of ethics and standards of practice: https://ismeta.org/about-ismeta/standards
