Young Minds Consultancy

Young Minds Consultancy offers family and child consultations. Helping children, including those with special needs, behavioural problems resulting from anxiety, trauma, social/emotional issues or low self-esteem/confidence.

About Me

Anna Claridge
BEd (Hons) MEd (special educational needs)

I am a behavioural specialist who has been working with children for 20 years. I moved to New Zealand 12 years ago, having worked as a special needs teacher in the UK and Kenya.

I have worked with children who suffered from trauma or hadn’t had a good start in life and were not socially or emotionally ready to begin learning. To gain further insight into the difficulties these children faced I returned to education and gained a Masters, focusing on special needs and behavioural issues.

My constant exploration of philosophies and programmes has provided me with an extensive repertoire of knowledge to enable me to find the best solution for each individual child. I provide children and their families with tailor-made programmes to resolve social, emotional and behavioural problems. I believe that for a child to be able to learn they need to feel safe, secure, happy and to understand the expectations of the adults around them. My philosophy is based on empowering children and their families to work in harmony.

How you help children

Child and Family Consultations

Each child’s needs are different and unique to their experiences and I tailor the sessions to meet their needs.

I meet with you and your child and begin by building a trusting relationship through conversation and age-appropriate play. Tools that I use include:

• working with your child on their emotional understanding, regulation and how emotions affect their behaviour
• collaborative problem solving with both you and your child to enable you to work together to find solutions to their individual needs
• identifying and developing thinking skills that would benefit your child in the five areas of executive functioning, language processing, emotion regulation, cognitive flexibility, and social skills.

With the expert knowledge of you as parents, we work together to implement the plan over time, with sessions spaced to meet the needs of you, your child, and your budget.

Physical Enviroment

My child and family consultancy rooms are located in Coatesville; alternatively, if you and your child would feel more comfortable in your home I am happy to visit you there.

Atmosphere

At Young Minds Consultancy, it is important that I form a safe and trusting relationship with both you and your child to ensure that you feel understood and valued. When working with your child it is important for them to know that what they say is confidential.

To discuss how I may help you or your child please call me today for a confidential chat. Alternatively, for more information check out my website http://www.youngminds.nz/.