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Draw and Talk

Drawing and Talking Therapy is a safe and gentle therapeutic intervention.  It provides an effective way for children and young people to process emotional pain or trauma they may be experiencing.  It is considered a very simple but highly effective tool, that has the power to make the child feel emotionally better, and more resilient.

Too frequently, we have observed a child who may be displaying unhealthy behaviours, at school or at home, who doesn’t have the necessary language to express themselves.  It often comes out in other ways, such as anger, violence, sadness, anxiety, withdrawal.

When a child has a piece of paper in front of them, and is given the freedom to draw whatever they like without interruption, this frees the right side of the brain allowing emotions and worries to be expressed.  Combined with talking about their drawings in a safe and secure environment can help the child make sense of what is going on in their internal world.

Why is this therapeutic intervention so effective?  

The human brain is made of up of the left side and right side each responsible for different aspects of our behaviour and functions.  The left side being in control of our language, logic, organisation, sequencing (movement of time) and is the side of the brain which is closely linked with our conscious mind.  Whereas the right side is more closely linked with our unconscious mind and is responsible for our creativity, imagination, physical and sensory behaviours and functions.

Knowing how the brain works then is an important part of understanding that if you experience a trauma the functions of the left brain shut down and this is what is known as ‘shock’ - your body’s way of self -protection in the moment.  Common sayings such as ‘time stood still’ or ‘I was lost for words’ when recalling traumatic or shocking events, are both good examples of helping to convey what happens to you in this situation and how you lose your ability to use language, logic, organisation and sequencing skills as you normally would.

However, this is all well and good at protecting you at the time but what happens to the traumatic images you have witnessed and/or experienced.  Research shows that that traumatic memories are stored in the part of the brain that is not directly reached by talking on its own.  It is the right side of the brain where powerful emotional memories are stored.  There is also a misconception that ‘bad’ memories can be ‘dead and buried’ but this is not the case as old, painful memories are still live and dangerous, until they are safely processed and this is what Drawing and Talking Therapy has the power to do.

The Power of Drawing

The power of drawing is it enables a child to express, in a visual form, worries from deep in the mind that they would not be able to talk about.  “If only they would just tell me what is wrong” … teachers and parents will say to children.  But the point is, very often children just don’t know themselves, at a conscious level.  The unconscious, deeper mind always knows though, it is all stored away.

Drawings enable symbolic and safe expression of deep worries and feelings.  Through the combination of drawing and talking, the different sides of the brain can interact with each other to problem solve.  Over time with an empathic adult giving the child attention and talking with them in a gentle, thoughtful and supportive way, the child can create a story through the pictures that helps them to sort things out – a symbolic resolution.

It is crucial to stress, in the context of ‘Drawing and Talking’ that the drawings produced are not judged or measured in terms of artistic ability.  Drawing with talking are tools for emotional healing and not for producing an art masterpiece.

At Kennington CE Academy, we are fortunate to have four members of staff fully trained in Draw and Talk.  

ELSA - Emotional Literacy Support Assistant 

An ELSA in a school is an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant. There is a recognised training course aimed specifically at Teaching Assistants or other specialist school roles. ELSAs are specialists with a wealth of experience of working with  children and young people. ELSAs are trained and regularly supervised by Educational Psychologists. The course tends to be 6 full days and covers many areas from emotional literacy to active listening.

Supervision

ELSAs must be supervised regularly by the Educational Psychologists who trained them. This supervision is key to good practice and allows the ELSA to bring up any problems with a group of other ELSAs along with the Educational Psychologist.

Scope of practice

It is important that ELSAs work within the their scope of practice and only cover things they are trained to cover. Any concerns out of their scope of practice should be discussed with their Educational Psychologist and potentially referred on to outside agencies. ELSAs SUPPORT NOT FIX.

ELSA Relationship

ELSAs are warm, kind and caring people who want to make children and young people feel happy in school. and to reach their potential socially, emotionally and academically. They understand the barriers to learning that some children and young people might have and can help them with this.

They can support the children and young person’s emotional development and help them cope with life’s challenges. ELSAs will also help children and young people to find solutions to problems they might have.

An ELSA is not there to fix problems but to help them find their own solutions and offer that important support to a child or young person.

Relationships are key in helping children and young people to feel safe and nurtured. ELSA is about creating a reflective space for the child or young person.

What areas does an ELSA help with?

Loss and bereavement
Emotional Literacy
Self-esteem
Social Skills
Friendship issues
Relationships
Managing strong feelings
Anxiety and worries
Bullying
Conflict
Emotional Regulation
Growth Mindset
Social and therapeutic stories
Problem solving

How are children or young people referred for ELSA?

Class teacher referral
Senco referral
Parent referral
Child referral