What is direct work?
Our direct work interventions are usually a 10 week programme of therapeutic direct activities, to help target a specific issue or concern.
Therapeutic direct work, is a creative activity-based approach that helps children and young people explore their feelings, understand their experiences, and make sense of difficult life events. It uses practical tools such as drawing, storytelling, therapeutic stories, timelines, puppets, and structured activities in a direct way. This hands-on method is especially helpful when emotions are hard to express verbally. Direct work is purposeful and goal-oriented, often supporting children to process experiences such as family change, a loss or pre bereavement, or support emotional literacy, in a safe and supportive way.
Unlike Play Therapy, direct work it directive and time limited.
How DIrect work might support your child
When your child is struggling, even in ways that may seem small to others, it can feel big at home. You might notice changes in their mood, behaviour, confidence, or relationships and wonder how best to help.
Therapeutic direct work offers gentle, focused support over an agreed number of sessions. It creates a safe, consistent space where your child can talk, explore their feelings, and learn practical strategies to cope with what they’re facing. The work is purposeful and goal-focused, helping children feel understood while building resilience and confidence.
This kind of support can be especially helpful for children and young people who are experiencing:
- Worries or anxiety, including school-related stress
- Low mood or a drop in confidence
- Friendship difficulties or social challenges
- Bullying
- Anger or big emotions that feel hard to manage
- Bereavement or loss
- Parental separation or changes in family life
- Difficult transitions, such as starting a new school or moving home
- Exam pressure or academic stress
Therapeutic direct work works well when a difficulty is linked to a particular situation or life change, and when your child would benefit from focused support to understand their feelings and develop coping tools and strategies. It can also act as an early intervention — helping prevent worries from becoming more overwhelming over time.
Direct work Process
1. Invited in for a face to face parent meeting.
2. Professionals meeting.
3. Intro session for your child
4. Therapeutic direct work begins for an agreed set time.
5. Review.
Depending on the review outcomes.
6. There will be a planned and structured ending.
Or an internal or external referral will be made for an alternative intervention or longer term support.
7. If requested a comprehensive report will be written.
10 sessions.
What next?
If your child’s needs are more complex or long-standing, we can talk together about whether longer-term or specialist support might be more appropriate. The most important thing is finding the right kind of help at the right time.
If you’re unsure whether direct therapeutic work is right for your child, you’re very welcome to get in touch to talk things through.
You don’t have to wait for a crisis.
Early support is often easier and more effective.
Thank you for visiting our website!
While we are awaiting funding, we are currently only accepting referrals from privately funded clients (parents and carers) and professionals (including schools, local authorities, and other services).