Specialist Assessment

NEATS Therapeutic Assessments are undertaken with 2 therapists and overseen by Dr Coleen Mercer Quinn, (Consultant Clinical Psychologist).  The goals are:

• Assess the emotional, behavioural and psychological impact of the child’s experiences of loss, trauma and separation.

• Assess the early attachment experience and the impact on the child’s current attachment relationship.

• Assess for early trauma experiences and the impact of dissociation on the child’s current attachment relationship.

• Develop an understanding of the child’s therapeutic needs and the type of therapeutic intervention they might benefit from.

• 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.

• Screen for sensory processing issues

• Explore whether the child’s parents can participate in the work and support the child through the therapeutic process.

• Assessment of parent’s areas of strength / required support in order to support the therapeutic process and the therapeutic parenting.

• Understand the child and parent’s views and goals for the therapeutic work.

• Decide whether the timing is right for the work to go ahead now.

• Develop a plan for therapeutic intervention.

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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:

• structure the environment and set clear, appropriate expectations and limits

• engage the child in interaction whilst being attuned to the child's state and reactions

• respond in a nurturing way to the child's needs, including being able to soothe and calm the child when needed

• provide and respond to challenge in an appropriate way 

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The MIM also explores the child's ability to respond to the caregivers' efforts.  The findings from the MIM provides an essential tool for play therapy treatment planning.