Therapeutic Mentoring provides a safe and empowering framework for a children and young people to develop their sense of self and place in the world.
Therapeutic Mentoring
“‘I am not afraid of storms,
for I am learning how to sail my ship’.”– Louisa May Alcott
Children who suffer from developmental trauma or neglect often miss out on the crucial stage of attunement that happens between parent and child.
Therapeutic Mentoring offers a second chance at this vital stage. It facilitates the regulation of emotions and helps establish healthy self esteem, whilst strengthening the child’s ability to relate effectively with others and society.
Koru’s mentors use Dan Hugh’s model of PACE (see DDP) in relating to the children and young people with whom they work:
Playfulness Acceptance Curiosity Empathy
They seek to create a supportive and unconditional relationship in which the children are able to emotionally rest as they find it is safe to trust and be themselves.
This enables each child to express their emotions freely in the secure containment of the mentor’s authentic regard.
Nervous systems on high alert due to traumatic experiences, with chronically raised levels of stress hormones – cortisol and adrenaline, can be quieted by the stability and reassurance of the ongoing therapeutic relationship. This leads to increased well being and mitigates the long term health implications of trauma to the mind and body.
Empathetic communication, coaching, goal setting and motivation alongside the tools of arts and movement therapy, helps to develop confidence, resilience and relationship skills.
The support of an upholding mentor can change the trajectory of a life, creating hope for the future and kindling in each child the knowledge that they matter and can contribute something worthwhile to the world.
