Methodology

At Jamie’s Farm we promote children’s ‘optimal functioning’, or best self, by: 

  • providing structure and boundaries
  • maintaining high expectations
  • providing empathy, not advice
  • promoting emotional honesty
  • building a culture of positivity and success

Over the course of a visit, children are encouraged to reflect on their behaviour and its impact on themselves and others. They are allowed to unveil their vulnerability whilst being supported in finding appropriate strategies for communication.

Our professional staff help the child to become self aware, supporting them in working towards their ambitions, and developing strategies to redirect negative response mechanisms.

All tasks at Jamie’s Farm are developed to facilitate our therapeutic approach. Tish Feilden is a UKCP registered humanistic and integrative psychotherapist.

‘I think Tish has incredibly valuable skills of conflict resolution that many of our staff would benefit from. She has a way of framing what she says so that – even when she is essentially telling a child off – the child feels responsible for their actions and is made to realise the importance of their own actions and consequences without any huge external pressure iterating it for them. It is, of course, more than just the way she words the sentence – her whole demeanour and tone exerts a very calming, yet authoritative influence over groups and I believe there is a lot to be learnt from this.’ Teacher, Islington Arts and Media School

For more information, contact tish@jamiesfarm.org.uk

Additional reading in this area:

Feilden and Carney, Every Child Journal Vol 1.4, March 2010

Rogers, Carl R (1980) Way of Being. Boston: Houghton Mifflin