Our Offer
Therapy
As part of Red Balloon of the Air’s wellbeing provision, weekly, term-time therapy sessions, with qualified therapists, are offered to all our learners. The weekly timetabled therapy sessions are offered either online, in person, or by telephone for learners based both at RBAir’s Centre in Milton, Cambridge, and RBET’s Learning Hub in Danbury, Essex.
Therapy is on offer to all our learners; however, it is not a compulsory addition to the timetable. The learner can choose when, and if, they would like to start with the help of their Link Mentor, who will then speak with the Therapy Team Lead. If a learner is already receiving therapeutic support outside of RBAir, it may be that the start of therapy with us is put on hold initially. This is discussed with the learner/family during the admissions process and subsequently supported by the Link Mentor, once a programme is established.
What do therapy sessions at RBAir look like?
The core values that underpin the ethos across all RBAir’s provision, i.e. unconditional positive regard, mutual respect, inclusion and collaboration, are the bedrock of the therapy sessions. The therapy space will be emotionally holding and non-judgmental.
Unconditional
Positive Regard
Mutual Respect
Inclusion
Collaboration
The therapy sessions provide a safe and confidential space for learners to talk to a qualified therapist to help their understanding of their emotions through expressing and exploring their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. If the sessions take place online or on the phone from home, we ask that the learner is given a quiet and confidential space in which to use the time.
An agreement between the learner and the therapist is shared when the sessions first begin. This outlines expectations in the session, the confidentiality of the sessions and when information may need to be shared. The sessions are confidential unless the therapist is worried about something that has been spoken of in a session that needs to be shared to ensure that the learner is safe. At RBAir, we work collaboratively across teams to enable the best possible outcome for the learner whilst they are with us. Permission to share information that is not a safeguarding concern is sought from the learner if the therapist feels what has been discussed in a session may be useful to other members of the wider team who work with the learner.
The sessions are available for as long as a learner is finding them helpful. Some learners engage in therapy for the duration of their time with us, others may choose to have fewer sessions. The therapist will check in regularly with the learner to find out if they would like to continue sessions; this provides a sense of autonomy in the decision making.
What happens in a therapy session?
All our therapists are skilled in working in their own modality; therefore, sessions can differ a little between each therapist. However, all our therapists are able to adapt their way of working to best suit the learner’s needs and can use a variety of therapeutic tools to do so. The sessions are person centered, and client led. This means that whilst it is the therapist who facilitates each session, it is the learner who directs the focus and pace, bringing whatever may be affecting any aspect of their lives to the sessions.
How might therapy sessions benefit me?
Therapy sessions provide a safe space to talk. The therapeutic relationship built between the therapist and the learner can help build emotional resilience, and support growth in the learners’ sense of self-worth and confidence. These enable a more positive engagement with life experiences and better equip the learner to manage any future challenges and stresses.