In 2005, with her tutor’s belief in her "natural ability to work with children", Dawn transferred to the Masters training in Transpersonal and Integrative Child, Adolescent and Family Psychotherapy and graduated as a Child Psychotherapist in 2007, also gaining a Diploma in Sandplay.
Dawn has counselled adults, since 2002, both privately and in placements, including Age Concern and The Peace Hospice (bereavement counselling). Her therapeutic work with children and adolescents began in 2005 within a primary school setting, through The Place To Be and a youth counselling service, Signpost, also gaining experience in Family Therapy through CAMHS.
For 3 years from 2008, Dawn ran up to 14 weekly “Hartbeeps” multi-sensory music groups, for parents and their children from 3 weeks old to pre-school age. She completed an NVQ in PTLLS, introductory teacher training, in 2009 and in 2011 became a Reiki First Degree Natural Healing Practitioner. Dawn is currently writing a group programme for children and parents which provides simple tools in life-skills, wellbeing and self-development, including confidence, communication and play.
As a Transpersonal and Integrative Psychotherapist, Dawn adheres to continued personal and professional development, essential in providing the best service for her clients.
Our existence, life experiences and the way we perceive our world are moulded by nature: who we innately and truly are and by nurture: our surrounding environment and the love and relationships within it.
Children (and indeed us all) deserve and need upbringings and atmospheres that provide “good-enough” (D W Winnicott) “facilitating environments” (D W Winnicott) in order for a secure sense of self to develop and to encourage our unique nature and potentials to flourish. Neuroscience corroborates that our experiences form the basic structure and connections of the brain. In severe cases of trauma, cortozol is released which destroys these pathways and brain cells. It is believed that new synaptic connections can be re-established through healthy, positive relationships. Within the therapeutic setting, relationships are formed that can nurture, restore and empower the person.
A. H. Almaas suggests that the ultimate source of suffering and hardship is the “…alienation of the self from Being…”; feelings of abandonment, aloneness and separation are the loss of connection to our spiritual, higher self and universal oneness to which we all belong. Through self-exploration and development of awareness, we gain insight into our natural selves and how we relate with our world and the people in it. This knowledge allows us to change or integrate aspects, behaviours, qualities and potentials, let go of negative, unhealthy patterns and feel a sense of assuredness and wholeness in reconnecting our body, mind and spirit, enabling a world of opportunities and possibilities.
Expand your self-awareness. Be the change you wish to see in the world (A H Almaas).
