Specialist Assessment
NEATS Therapeutic Assessments are undertaken with 2 Psychotherapists and overseen by Dr Coleen Mercer Quinn, (Consultant Clinical Psychologist). The goals are:
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Assess the emotional, behavioural and psychological impact of the child’s experiences of loss, trauma and separation.
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Assess the early attachment experience and the impact on the child’s current attachment relationship.
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Assess for early trauma experiences and the impact of dissociation on the child’s current attachment relationship.
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Develop an understanding of the child’s therapeutic needs and the type of therapeutic intervention they might benefit from.
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Screen the impact of early experiences on the child’s central nervous system and identify neuro-developmental delays and any resulting issues that may further impact on social and emotional functioning.
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Screen for sensory processing issues
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Explore whether the child’s parents can participate in the work and support the child through the therapeutic process.
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Assessment of parent’s areas of strength / required support in order to support the therapeutic process and the therapeutic parenting.
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Understand the child and parent’s views and goals for the therapeutic work.
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Decide whether the timing is right for the work to go ahead now.
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Develop a plan for therapeutic intervention.
One of the methods we use to assess and evaluate the quality and nature of the child/carer relationship and interaction is the Marschak Interaction Method (MIM). This identifies how the child reacts to the carer's attempts to:
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structure the environment and set clear, appropriate expectations and limits
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engage the child in interaction whilst being attuned to the child's state and reactions
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respond in a nurturing way to the child's needs, including being able to soothe and calm the child when needed
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provide and respond to challenge in an appropriate way
The MIM also explores the child's ability to respond to the caregivers' efforts. The findings from the MIM provides a tool for therapeutic treatment planning.