Amegreen’s Therapeutic Approach – A Robust, Integrated Model of Healing
Healing begins with safety, trust and understanding.
At Amegreen Children’s Services, we understand that many children arrive with the enduring impact of early trauma, disrupted attachments, loss, and experiences that have not met their emotional or developmental needs. Healing does not happen through structure or routine alone – it develops through safe, consistent relationships, thoughtful responses, and care rooted in an understanding of each child’s individual story.
We offer more than placement. We offer home as therapy – a living, relational environment where children begin to feel safe, seen, understood and supported to grow.
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We Offer A Mix Of Therapy Alongside Educational Lessons
Therapy As A Lived Experience
Our therapeutic approach is informed by:
- Developmental trauma theory
- Attachment-informed practice
- The PACE model – Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity and Empathy
The PACE model was developed by Dan Hughes as part of Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP), an evidence-informed approach designed to support children who have experienced trauma, loss and disrupted attachment.
At Amegreen Children’s Services, PACE provides the relational foundation for how adults think, respond and connect with children in everyday moments. Alongside this, our senior teams are trained in DDP-informed practice, which deepens understanding of attachment, emotional regulation and the impact of early experiences on behaviour and relationships.
Training in DDP strengthens adults’ ability to remain curious, emotionally attuned and reflective, ensuring that PACE is not simply a set of values, but a lived, consistent approach embedded across care, therapy and daily life.
These principles shape every interaction, every response, and every day, not only scheduled therapy sessions. They provide a shared framework across our homes so that therapeutic thinking is embedded in daily life, influencing how adults understand behaviour, respond to emotional need, and build trusting relationships.
Therapy at Amegreen Children’s Services is not something that happens alongside care – it is fundamental to how care is delivered.
A Journey of Understanding And Growth
Therapeutic work begins from the moment a child arrives, but understanding develops over time, through observation, relationship and reflection.
In the early weeks of placement, we undertake a careful and reflective therapeutic assessment process. This draws together insight from:
- daily interactions and routines within the home
- observations of how the child relates to adults and peers
- the child’s history, experiences and care journey
- contributions from care staff, therapists and the wider professional network
From Assessment to Pathway
The purpose of this assessment is not to label or diagnose, but to build a shared formulation, a thoughtful understanding of what the child has experienced, how this has shaped their emotional world, and what they need in order to feel safe and supported.
Through this process, we explore:
- the child’s emotional and relational experiences
- their strengths, vulnerabilities and developmental profile
- how they communicate needs, distress and connection through behaviour
- what helps them regulate, and what may overwhelm or dysregulate them
From this understanding, we develop a personalised therapeutic pathway. This pathway guides:
- therapeutic goals and approaches
- how adults respond consistently across the home
- how specialist input is introduced and coordinated
- how progress is understood and reviewed
This pathway is not fixed or prescriptive. It evolves as relationships deepen, trust grows and the child’s needs change. Progress is considered in terms of emotional development, relational capacity, regulation, communication and identity, rather than behaviour alone.
In this way, assessment becomes an ongoing, living process, supporting children to move forward at a pace that feels safe and meaningful for them.
Everyday Healing Through Relationships
Therapeutic care is not limited to clinical sessions; it lives in relationships.
All adults at Amegreen Children’s Services are supported to deliver therapeutic parenting through:
- regular consultation with therapists
- shared reflective thinking about what behaviour is communicating
- planning responses that prioritise connection, safety and emotional regulation
This ensures that children experience consistent, attuned care across all areas of their life, not fragmented or contradictory responses.
Reflective practice: Supporting the adults who care
We recognise that caring for children with complex trauma histories requires emotional containment, curiosity and ongoing reflection from adults.
Our teams participate in structured reflective practice (critical reflection) sessions every six weeks, facilitated by experienced external consultants. These sessions provide protected space for adults to:
- think deeply about the emotional impact of the work
- reflect on relational dynamics and patterns
- explore uncertainty, challenge assumptions and avoid burnout
- strengthen therapeutic responses through shared understanding
Reflective practice supports adults to remain emotionally available, regulated and thoughtful, which in turn supports children to feel safer and more understood. It is a core part of maintaining a healthy therapeutic culture.
Indirect Therapy: When Direct Work Isn’t Possible
We understand that not all children are ready or able to engage in direct therapy.
When children disengage from, decline or struggle with formal therapeutic sessions, our therapists work closely with the care team, particularly the child’s key worker, to ensure indirect therapeutic work continues.
This includes:
- helping adults understand the child’s emotional needs and communication
- shaping daily interactions to support regulation, trust and safety
- embedding therapeutic goals into routines, relationships and care planning
Indirect therapy ensures that therapeutic support continues even when formal sessions are not appropriate, allowing healing to take place through everyday relationships, while building adults’ confidence and understanding.
Therapeutic support for teams: Ongoing learning and development
Our therapy team plays an active role in supporting adults beyond individual children.
This includes:
- therapeutic input within team meetings
- consultation around complex dynamics or challenges
- targeted training and professional development linked to identified needs
Training is responsive and purposeful, supporting teams to deepen their understanding of trauma, attachment, neurodevelopment and therapeutic parenting. This ensures practice remains informed, reflective and aligned with each child’s needs.
Nature And Animals As Therapy
We believe nature and animals can play a powerful role in therapy and learning.
Some children are not ready for full-time education, often because of past trauma. At Stable Futures, we support young people through a mix of therapy, outdoor learning, horticulture, equine learning and life skills. This helps them understand and manage their feelings, build confidence and experience positive routines.
Our programme includes both indoor and outdoor activities, giving young people more ways to engage, feel safe and make progress over time.