Marlowe Child & Family Services have had a 16 year history in providing genuine therapeutic placements and therapeutic intervention to troubled and troubling children and young people. There is a well established humanistic philosophy that underpins all interventions.

Therapy is provided both directly, in individual and group therapy sessions, and as part of the therapeutic milieu in the day to day interventions by Care Staff, as well as through their relationships with children and young people.

All units have both therapists and consultant staff attached to them, to guide their work and provide therapeutic advice and support.

Direct psychotherapeutic work usually involves one-to-one sessions, each for around an hour, two to four times a month. The nature of work is dictated by the child or young person themselves, their ability to engage therapeutically, the amount of insight they have and their ability to verbalise their innermost thoughts and feelings. Some children and young people work best through the medium of play or art, others feel most comfortable talking.

All individual psychotherapy sessions are confidential. Information is only disclosed if there is concern regarding the safety or welfare of the child, or they disclose child abuse. General Progress Reports are provided to Placing Agencies.

Psychological Assessments and Psychometric Testing, both standardised and non-standardised are undertaken by Clinical Psychologists. This includes comprehensive admission assessment, functional analysis of challenging behaviours and specialised risk assessments. Psychometric testing includes, among others, IQ, ADHD, ASD verbal comprehension, arson, dyslexia and mental health screening. Psychological Reports can be prepared on request, for statutory reviews and court reports for LAC Proceedings.

Individual Behaviour Programmes are developed for most children and young people by our Psychology and/or Psychotherapy staff, in conjunction with Care Managers and Care Staff. Detailed Reactive Behaviour Management Strategies are essential if long-term sustainable emotional growth and behavioural change is to be achieved.

Our Psychology and Psychotherapy staff also contribute to staff meetings and staff development programmes. Consultants and Therapists are fully integrated into the multi-professional approach to our work.

Our Therapists are either employed directly by Marlowe Child & Family Services, employed as Consultants or work with us as part of our long-term relationship with Studio III Clinical Services.

Studio III Clinical Services are a group of professionals, including psychologists, psychotherapists, nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, advocates and social care workers. All Studio III staff have an Enhanced CRB Disclosure and Professional Indemnity Insurance, through the British Psychological Society. All have nationally recognised qualifications appropriate to their role, and are registered with the appropriate professional organisation.

Studio III's ethos and that of Marlowe Child & Family Services are based firmly in a person-centered approach. We both believe that positive relationships with children and young people, valuing them and their experiences, and treating them with regard and genuine worth is the key to helping with psychological growth and emotional recovery. This shared philosophy has resulted in a successful working relationship, as well as positive outcomes for children and young people over a number of years.