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Welcome from the editor

The major story at the moment is the Government’s cash-backed promise toÌýexpand IAPT therapy to more children¹. Involving young people themselvesÌýin decisions – tick. CBT and other therapies – tick. Emphasis on earlyÌýintervention – tick. And certainly, it sounds good to label the document:ÌýNo Health Without Mental Health – three ticks.

Mind you, I’m not sure whereÌýand how the current funds-slashing will affect all this good will. As I said onÌýRadio Newcastle on the day of the announcement (that’s not blatant namedropping,Ìýjust encouragement to you all to be ready when the media ring;ÌýI was only picked as a local children’s counsellor), the stringent cuts are removingÌýyouth services such as clubs and other provision that would prevent someÌýmental health issues arising in the first place. But still, when asked at the endÌýof the interview what I’d do if I had a magic wand and all this cash, I saidÌýI’d put a counselling service in every school where it could be integrated andÌýnon-stigmatising and used. What help will all the children’s IAPT in the worldÌýbe, if no one takes up the offer?

We focus strongly this issue on taking up with the wider stories from theÌýenvironment that pertain to our work. We have articles about in-school supportÌýof families (who are significantly entwined with a child’s presenting issues),Ìýunderstanding and working with the looked after system, neuro-developmentalÌýaspects of helping adopted children (why do so many adoptions break downÌýwith no offer of therapy for the children? – see this recent Telegraph article²),Ìýand even dyslexia (it’s not all about reading strategies – do we fully understandÌýthe psychological ramifications?). What’s going on when the referrer insists theÌýclient is lying and expects us to ‘sort it’? And exactly how do the succession ofÌýlife tasks or archetypes follow one another imaginatively? Because if we knowÌýthat, we can maybe see where our client is, metaphorically, when they comeÌýto us, and work with that narrative.

But we haven’t neglected the practical stories from our professionalÌýinvolvement. It’s a great idea to use science experiments to engage withÌýyoung people who might not realise they need help. We’re challenging obesityÌýprejudice…looking at a coaching perspective…learning PhD research tactics…Ìý

And then, puppets. In recent issues, we’ve focused on sand, clay and paint.ÌýPuppets is the other biggie in the playroom, and the writing this time is sharedÌýbetween a group of us. This series is a sort of choose-your-own-ending type.ÌýIf you fancy writing with a focus on doll houses or on building blocks or onÌýminiature figures or… well, anything at all that is relevant really, then doÌýcontact me. What is this particular story about? Play media. What happens?ÌýThat’s what we show in the content of each article. How does the series end?ÌýOver to you.

Eleanor Patrick
Editor

References

1 See the pdf of the report at http://bit.ly/ePiIsF
2 http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/8283942/When-adoptions-go-wrong.html

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