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"Your
children are not your children.
Though
they are with you, yet they belong not to you.
You
may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you."
-Khalil
Gibran
Personal
Background
I
came to working with children (both "typical" and those labeled "special
needs") in a round about way while living and working as an au pair
in London, UK and have training in both Floortime/DIR and Sonrise (see
Links page for links to more info about each method) and most of my
training is "on the job" and therefore, experiential (although I
do also have theoretical knowledge/training in both methods as well as in
psychological theory, but not at the same focused level as somebody with
an MA, MS or PhD and that's why I always prefer to work in conjunction with
qualified advanced degreed therapists because there is much we can learn
from each other). I continued my work and training
in Floortime/DIR upon returning to the Seattle area in 2002. (For more
info on my training go to Flyer link at bottom of the page).
Therapeutic
Approaches
When
talking about my "therapy" work with children and their families
the easiest way to describe it is "Kid Whispering" because the
way I am around children, no matter what labels or diagnoses are put upon
them, is very much naturalistic and holistic, child led and based on
forming a mutual connection/relationship with the child rather than
forcing them to submit to my will.
More
specifically I practice mostly Greenspan's Floortime/DIR (D= Development,
I= Individual, R= Relationship) with a bit of Sonrise and modifications of
both approaches tailored to a child/families' differing needs, in that my
intention in my work is to:
1)
communicate/reach and help the child communicate and interact with me,
others, etc in ever expanding ways and to help them feel that
relationship/communicating is helpful rather than threatening;
2)
help the child attend and regulate and aide/guide them so that they are
able to attend and stay regulated for longer periods of time and in
increasingly complex situations, including ever more complex sensory,
motor, emotional environments;
3)
stay in the moment, watch, observe and honor in a nonjudgmental way
child's inner state, processing speed (aural, motor, visual, etc.), level
of attention/regulation, etc. at any given moment and not impose upon
him/her my own agenda, issues, desires for the perfect rapid fire
interaction and/or a duplicate of me and/or the parent and/or the
"ideal" child.
4)
work as a member of a functional team of individuals made up of the
Parents/Child (at the top), qualified Occupational Therapists, Physical
Therapists, Speech/Language Pathologists, Psychologists, Physicians
(middle) and then me and other Home Therapy providers (bottom).
5)
recognize that we (the parents, other professionals, myself) are all human
and cannot always be in "the moment" and need help/advice from
each other as well as coaching, evaluation, feedback and support.
I
can also provide ABA/Discrete Trial tutoring under the guidance of an ABA
consultant.
Ultimately
I am just one member of a team working with a child and consider myself
successful if I can just help support families and other members of the
therapy/care giving team and learn as much as I can to achieve that goal.
For
more information on my training, availability etc. please follow the Flyer
and Policies links below and/or contact me via email at info@annettesugden.com
or nannyteacherannette@yahoo.com.
For Information and additional resources click on Resources Link below.
-
Annette Sugden 2004
Flyer
Resume
Resources
Contact
Info
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