Early Intervention for pēpi / baby, Tamariki with disabilites
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
We recently had the honour to provide an EI programme, supported by charitable funding, to a group of infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families. The success of the programme has given us the impetus to inspire others to learn about what constitutes an EI programme with an emphasis on scaffolding the relationship between the infant/toddler and her caregiver. In the words of Andrew Solomon, author of the book, Far From the Tree: Parents, Children and the Search for Identity (2012), all children and all parents, “…thrive on attention, engagement, stimulation, and hope. “
Service Delivery
We work in the Motueka area but can offer most of our clinical services to whānau via video link if outside our area. We have worked with families in remote areas of New Zealand, the north island and overseas (Japan, USA) via video link - so location is not a problem.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
The training in cross cultural counselling underscores the importance of healing practices from around the world. There are many cultures which understand the significance of the birthing experience as an initiation rite and provide baby/pēpi and parent(s) with a container, which enables them to assimilate the major changes they are undergoing as individuals and as a family/whānau. We bring this perspective to our work with babies and their families following the birth. For those whose birthing experience was traumatic to them, we are Level II trainers out of the Child Trauma Academy, which provides us with a solid foundation, not only in the effects of trauma, but also in practical ways to alleviate those effects and begin to “heal a bad birth”.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
The baby/pēpi has so much to learn about this new world. For instance, she doesn’t know the difference between day and night! We trained in the Newborn Behavioural Observation (NBO) System as a way to share with parents all the things their newborn pēpi/baby can do and all the ways the baby/pēpi is communicating using her whole body. We also are trained in the Parent Child Interaction (PCI) Feeding & Teaching Scales, another observational tool which helps parents to see all they and their baby are doing to contribute to the building of the early relationship.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
After the first three months, if your baby/pēpi is continuing to cry inconsolably for prolonged periods of time and/or if she persists in constant, frequent (every 20 minutes to half hour) waking and/or she consistently refuses novel foods, following the introduction of solids, you may wish to seek us out for an initial consultation. The sooner these concerns are addressed the better for everyone.
We always try to work in close communication with your GP and/or paediatrician. Their role is to provide a medical evaluation. Our role is to work alongside your pēpi/baby and you to understand what may be occurring, to assess what sensory issues may be contributing to the sleep, mood and feeding problems, and to help you and your baby/pēpi foster a relationship that makes room for disruptions and seeks repairs. We are trained to administer a Sensory Profile Questionnaire, which helps you to understand how your pēpi/baby responds to the external and internal environment. Depending on your pēpi/baby’s sensory profile we can help you develop a sensory diet specific to your baby/pēpi. We are trained in Baby Massage, which means we train you how to massage your pēpi/baby. We also are trained in Child Focused Psychotherapy, which scaffolds baby/pēpi and you as you come to know one another.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Assessments
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Sensory Profile
Sensory Profile provides questionnaires to parents and teachers for evaluating your pēpi / baby, tamariki / child’s sensory processing patterns in the context of everyday life. This information can help to determine how your tamariki / child’s sensory processing may be supporting or hindering their participation in everyday life.
This assessment is usually part of a wider assessment.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Parent-Child Interaction Feeding & Teaching Scales
The NCAST Parent - Child Interaction scales (Feeding & Teaching) assesses parent/caregiver's sensitivity to infant's cues, response to infant's distress, social emotional growth fostering, cognitive growth fostering and baby's cues and responsiveness to parent/caregiver utilising either a feeding interaction or teaching interaction. Pivotal to the scales is the understanding of infant states and infant engagement and disengagement cues (subtle and potent). The NCAST PCI scales are not a one-time assessment.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Based upon the recommendations which have resulted from further evaluation, we offer the following interventions:
Interventions
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
We have witnessed the mutual delight between pēpi/baby and caregiver when engaging in this fun, sensory experience! Babies respond to attuned touch. They need and like to touch and to be touched, and especially they like to be touched by you, the primary caregiver.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
The goal of the provision of a framework (the FAN) is to allow the practitioner to remain regulated enough to engage in a sequence of responses: empathic listening, calming behaviours, collaborative problem solving, capacity building and, ultimately, facilitation of the caregiver’s ability to make a new discovery or be able to reflect. The steps are sequential and are designed to increase parental confidence, strengthen the infant-parent relationship and promote healthy development of infants and caregivers.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
Circle of Security -Parenting
The Circle of Security® Parenting™ program is a attachment-based parenting education program that helps parents better understand and build on their relationships with their children. This program supports parents to: Understand their child's emotional world by learning to read emotional needs.
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
What Families/ Whānau have shared with us
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“Thank you for the support and guidance you have given us as we try to better understand and connect with our beautiful daughter”
Parents
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“Having an ongoing therapeutic play group with access to skilled clinicians and support from other parents locally has made a huge difference for our family and to our future.”
A Mother
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“What we have found really valuable is the regular weekly contact provided by Heidi and Sarah. The support we get from the public service is intermittent.”
Parents
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“To have this assistance ongoing for our son is extremely valuable to us, and we hope to continue to have this support as he grows, to help him become a contributing member of our community.”
Parents
How much does it cost?
We offer “sliding scale” pricing
Standard Rates from $120 per session
If cost is a barrier, please contact us as we can arrange payment plans or advise on alternative funding
Let’s talk . . .
Funding Options
Sarah is registered with Gumboot Friday, which provides 2 free sessions - https://www.gumbootfriday.org.nz/
Your child may be eligible for Child Disability Allowance through WINZ - speak to your GP - https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/products/a-z-benefits/child-disability-allowance.html
You may be eligible to apply to charitable trusts for funding, e.g. Wilson Home Trust - https://wilsonhometrust.org.nz/grants/
You may be eligible for funding through Oranga Tamariki - speak to your case worker
You may be eligible for funding through High & Complex Needs - https://www.hcn.govt.nz/
Your employer may fund support through their employment support fund
Small Business owners may be eligible for services through https://firststeps.clearhead.org.nz/
Your health insurance may cover costs.
Your GP may be aware of other funding sources to help with costs.
Let’s Talk . . .
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau
The people we serve are experts by experience
Photograph by permission of friends & whānau