Our Services
Popeth’s therapeutic approach is grounded in an understanding of child development and the profound impact early life trauma can have on children and young people.
Every child responds to trauma in their own unique way, and how they express their experiences, whether through words, movement, or creativity, varies from one individual to another. At the heart of our work is the commitment to meeting each child where they are.
That’s why we draw on a range of approaches, including Systemic Creative Play Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Theraplay and Therapeutic Life Story Work. These methods allow us to attune to each child’s '“Trauma Language” and respond in the most effective and compassionate way possible.
The child's most important relationship is with their caring adults, which is why we involve them throughout the therapeutic process. Supporting them to decode, accept and understand their child's trauma language.
We believe all the important adults in the child's village are central to the child and family's journey. We also work with these key adults to decode, accept and understand the child's trauma language; creating consistency, predictability and reliability for the child. A child’s village is all the people who are there for them as they grow. This may include extended family, educators, social workers, occupational health therapists and any other adults who are important to them.
We keep the family’s needs central throughout the therapeutic process, ensuring we adapt as the family grows.
The Roots of our Approach
The Popeth approach is based on Bruce Perry’s (2009) sequence of engagement which supports natural brain development and how we process information, known as,
The 3 Rs: Regulate, Relate, Reason.
Firstly, our children will need help to feel stable and safe in their body, so they can better understand what's going on inside them and regulate.
We relate by helping our children build healthy relationships and managing their emotions more effectively.
Then we can assist our children in reasoning, reflecting, and making sense of their experiences, fostering a positive sense of Self.
The importance of all relationships is central to fostering meaningful change.
Where the sensory needs are beyond our considerable experience, we collaborate with professionals with the required expertise.
We use our knowledge and skills in Systemic Creative Play Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), Theraplay and Therapeutic Life Story Work interchangeably or as standalone interventions, as we support the child through the Three R’s.
Therapies
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We begin by meeting each child and their caring adults exactly where they are. From the very first encounter, we listen deeply and work collaboratively with the family, the child, and their village to understand their needs and determine the most supportive path forward.
Sometimes, this means beginning with work focused solely on the caring adults, creating a solid foundation before the child enters the therapy space. In other cases, the child may need their own therapeutic space, while we simultaneously support the adults around them. There is no one-size-fits-all approach; we adapt to what is right for each child, each family, and each situation.
Every child experiences and express’s trauma in their own unique way, through words, movement, creativity, all silence. At the heart of our practise is the belief in responding to that individual expression with sensitivity and intention.
That’s why we draw on a range of relationship-based approaches, integrating Systemic Creative Play Therapy, Dyadic Psychotherapy (DDP) Theraplay and Therapeutic Life Story Work. These methods help us tune in to each child’s trauma language and provide a therapeutic process that feels safe and responsive.
When a particular therapeutic model is identified as the best fit for a child’s needs, we can offer Play Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy, Theraplay or Therapeutic Life Story Work as focused, standalone interventions.
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Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP) was developed by Dr. Daniel A. Hughes. Central to the process is the strengthening of the parent-child relationship, helping children heal from trauma and build a secure attachment with their caregivers. The therapy focuses on creating a supportive and loving environment, using playfulness, acceptance, curiosity, and empathy (PACE) to guide the process.
We recognize that play is a child's language and so, where necessary, combine DDP and PACE with creative play therapy and Theraplay-informed techniques. The approach is led by the child and families therapeutic needs.
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We use a PACEful, trauma informed approach with Play therapy.
Play Therapy gives the child an opportunity to externalise their inner world to the parent and the therapist through using their most familiar language; play.
Caring adults have their own space where psychoeducation, DDP and PACE principles underpin the therapeutic parenting sessions. Led by the family’s therapeutic needs, the process concludes bringing the child and caring adults together in the therapy room. Here, joys and challenges can be shared, strengthening the relationship and enabling the therapy to continue beyond the therapy room.
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We use therapeutic life story work to support children in understanding their past and its impact on their present. Each child has an individualised plan, focusing on empowering them to create a narrative from their perspective as they therapeutically explore their past. We understand that our children with complex backgrounds need time for regulation and relationship-building with their caregiver before they can engage in reasoning and reflection. With the carer-child relationship central to this process, the caring adult attends the sessions, increasing their understanding, empathy, and acceptance of the child as they navigate the journey together.
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Theraplay uses playful, fun games, developmentally appropriate activities, and nurturing interactions to guide parents and children. By engaging in these activities together, parents can help regulate their child's behaviour and express love, joy, and a sense of safety. This approach fosters feelings of security, care, connection, and self-worth in the child. We incorporate Theraplay principles into our sessions to strengthen relationships between the child and their caring adult. Modern neuroscience shows that strong attachments enable children to understand, trust, and thrive in their world.
Assessments
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The Sibling Attachment Assessment draws on the Coram and Baff framework, "Beyond Together or Apart: Planning for, Assessing, and Placing Sibling Groups." We recognise that sibling relationships are among the most vital connections in a child’s life, and we approach the assessment process with the utmost sensitivity.
Our direct work with children and young people focuses on capturing their wishes and feelings in a playful, engaging manner that respects their emotional world and current circumstances. It may be that we use the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM) to evaluate the relationship between the child and their caring adult/s to better inform the assessment. Should the assessment recommend that siblings cannot reside together, we provide tailored advice and guidance on both indirect and direct interventions to support their transition to individual placements.
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At Popeth, our mission is to collaborate with professionals to safely reunite families and support those engaged in placement with parents' regulations, guiding them toward independence from ongoing support.
We achieve this through two comprehensive assessment processes: the CUBAS Parenting Assessment and the NSPCC Reunification Assessment, both grounded in our trauma-informed approach. These assessments incorporate psychoeducation to enhance parents' capacity for change and identify areas where further education may be beneficial.
Additionally, we offer a range of assessments and therapeutic packages designed to facilitate family reunification or enable the discharge of care orders. Our services may include therapeutic parenting sessions and parent-child interventions aimed at repairing, rebuilding, and strengthening relationships.
After an assessment has been conducted, therapeutic support is often recommended before advancing with reunification or discharge plans. At Popeth, we are dedicated to supporting families on their journey by providing individualised therapeutic packages, with the option for a reassessment at the conclusion of the process.
Training
We are committed to working collaboratively with professionals in all settings, through continuing professional development, training, resources, bringing professionals together, sharing knowledge, and best practice. We are associates with the fostering network and provide bespoke training to meet needs for organisations who work with our vulnerable children.