Safe Steps
ABOUT US
About Our Practice
WELCOME TO OUR PRACTICE
A warm, relational and trauma informed centre
We are a child and adolescent psychotherapy centre offering warm, relational, and trauma-informed support to children, young people, and their families.
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Our work is grounded in a humanistic and integrative approach. We believe that every child's behaviour and emotional world makes sense in the context of their relationships and experiences. At the heart of our practice is a commitment to creating a safe, attuned space where children feel seen, understood, and supported.
"Every child's behaviour and emotional world makes sense in the context of their relationships and experiences."
SAFE STEPS THERAPISTS
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OUR WAY OF WORKING
Collaborative, reflective and deeply relational
We work collaboratively, both with families and with each other. Our co-working model is a core part of our practice, allowing us to bring depth, reflection, and shared clinical thinking to the work. This means that children and families are held not just by one therapist, but within a thoughtful and supported therapeutic process.
This approach allows for deep reflection, deep understanding, and ultimately deep and lasting healing.
Safe Steps practitoners are trained to IAPTP and EAIP standards. We integrate play-based methods within a robust therapeutic framework that is grounded in clinical training, ethical practice and supervision.
OUR THERAPEUTIC APPROACH
Models and approaches that inform our work
We work in a humanistic and integretive way, which means our work is informed by a range of evidence based, trauma informed and attachemnt focused approaches carefully integrated to support each childs unique needs.
These include Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, Polyvagal informed
practice, EMDR, The Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (NMT), and Education (NME) Theraplay, and Trauma Informed Stabilisastion Treatment (TIST).
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Rather than applying any one model in isolation, we draw thoughtfully from these approaches to provide therapy that is relational, developmentally attuned, and grounded in an understanding of trauma and the nervous system.
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
As our practice continues to grow, we are developing our assessment services. We are training toward becoming reliable CAPA coders for attachment assessment, and we are building our skills in MIM assessments and Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) family formulations.
Our vision is to offer comprehensive, attachment-informed assessments alongside therapeutic support, helping families to better understand their relational patterns and therapeutic needs.
Our Background
We come from complementary professional backgrounds in psychiatric nursing and social care, including leadership experience in residential care. We have also spent a number of years working within a national service supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse.
This experience has deeply shaped our understanding of trauma, attachment, and the importance of safe, consistent relationships in healing.
Our Background
As our practice continues to grow, we are developing our assessment services. We are training toward becoming reliable CAPA coders for attachment assessment, and we are building our skills in MIM assessments and Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) family formulations.
Our vision is to offer comprehensive, attachment-informed assessments alongside therapeutic support, helping families to better understand their relational patterns and therapeutic needs.
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Our Background
We come from complementary professional backgrounds in psychiatric nursing and social care, including leadership experience in residential care. We have also spent a number of years working within a national service supporting children who have experienced sexual abuse.
This experience has deeply shaped our understanding of trauma, attachment, and the importance of safe, consistent relationships in healing.
Looking Forward
As our practice continues to grow, we are developing our assessment services. We are training toward becoming reliable CAPA coders for attachment assessment, and we are building our skills in MIM assessments and Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) family formulations.
Our vision is to offer comprehensive, attachment-informed assessments alongside therapeutic support, helping families to better understand their relational patterns and therapeutic needs.
OUR TEAM
Meet the Therapists
Amanda Donovan
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Amanda brings a warm, attuned relational approach to her work with children, young people and their families. Her background in psychiatric nursing informs her integrated clinical practice with children and adults.
Olive Connaughton
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHOTHERAPIST
Olive's background in social care and residential leadership brings a systems perspective and deep compassion to her clinical work. She is committed to supporting children and families with care, curiosity and respect.
The possibility of change through relationship
We believe in the resilience of children and the possibility of change through relationship. Our aim is to walk alongside children and families with care, curiosity, and respect - supporting them to make sense of their experiences and move toward greater connection, regulation, and wellbeing.
SAFE STEPS THERAPISTS
SAFE STEPS THERAPISTS
Ready to take the first step?
Get in touch to see how we can support your child or family