Overview
Nikki and Laura have extensive experience of working with children and teenagers. This includes working with neurodivergent young people, as well supporting families and schools with tailored one-to-one coaching and workshops.
They blend NLP, coaching and play based therapy (incorporating LEGO®) in their sessions. They often include Brain Gym® exercises and flower essences too.
Laura also offers Systematic Kinesiology®, Retained Primary Reflexes integration, nutritional therapy and Gut & Psychology Syndrome (GAPS) support. Laura regularly works with disordered, avoidant and restrictive eaters.
Nikki provides nutrition advice too as well as mindfulness and breathing techniques. Nikki is responsible for the design of our NLP and play based workshops, as well as leading on our relationship with schools.
NLP & Play Based Therapy
Working one-to-one they look to identify the specific skills gap with your child or teen. It is a bit like a recipe for a birthday cake. You need to have the right ingredients and do the right actions, in the right order to make a birthday cake. Confidence and self-esteem are the same. They can equip your child with these skills. Empowering the young person to become confident, and begin to achieve their true potential. Working with individuals or in classes to empower confidence, boost self-esteem and create that can-do attitude.
"What can I say? Amazing, professional and life changing. My son accessed a programme through school run by Nikki, and also had a private session to address his phobias which were affecting his day-to-day life quite dramatically. Nikki addressed this with IEMT, and I was astounded at the results. Such a huge positive change. For example his spider phobia ruled his life, paralysed by fear if he encountered one. Now he has a pet spider in the bathroom called Fred. Personally, I find Nikki down to earth, kind, non-judgemental and very wise. Thank you ❤️" (Mel Phipps)
Working in groups and classes to equip children with tools that can boost self-confidence, and self-esteem and create a can-do attitude where mistakes are accepted and seen as a point of learning. These workshops have been developed to sit within your existing timetable and are tailored to the key stages. From confidence and exam workshops to emotional state management tools that also empower and include those children who are disadvantaged so that they can receive the extra boost that they need to unlock their true potential.
"Year 7 pupils really enjoyed their Confidence and Wellbeing session. 87% strongly agreed or agreed that the skills learned in the session will be useful to them in the future." (Assistant Head of a Salisbury Secondary School).
"Thanks once again for the workshops today, the kids really enjoyed them and gained a lot from the experience." (Secondary School, Wiltshire)
Flower Essences & Aromatherapy
Flower essences and aromatherapy are a gentle and passive way to support your young person. Nikki and Laura are both trained in the Bach flower essence system with Rachael Barrett being a qualified Aromatherapist. Rachael has developed a series of blends specifically to support babies and children.
Flower essences can be selected in a number of ways including through the Luscher colour test, this means a child doesn't even need to speak to express their emotions.
"I took the flower essence that Laura made for me the night before my first day of secondary school after lockdown. It really calmed me down, because I was really nervous. It's really calming and works magnificently. Another fun and helpful activity was the stress relieving balloon... I loved blowing up the imaginary balloon and filling it with everything that was bothering me and then pretending to pop it. Thank you so much Laura." Anaïs, aged 12
Retained Primary Reflexes
Primary reflexes are automatic movements which are directed from the brain stem to assist a baby’s survival during the first weeks and months of life. These need to be inhibited by higher brain centres to allow more sophisticated neural structures to be developed. If they are not fully integrated they can inhibit neurological development.
You may want to consider answering these questions:
- Difficulty with handwriting?
- Struggle with reading?
- Clumsy?
- Poor posture?
- Confused by left / right directions
- Anger?
- Walk on balls of feet or toes?
- Easily distracted?
- Dislike of bright lights or too much stimulus?
- Fidgety?
- Messy eating?
- Uncomfortable in certain clothing or feeling on skin?
- Problem with sport or catching a ball?
If so, it may be that primary (neonatal) reflexes have not been fully integrated.
"I just wanted to share with you that xxx received the Learner’s Trophy today at school for doing so well this year and always giving everything a go. We have really noticed such a change in her these last couple of months especially with her concentration and I believe this is a result of our time with you. I’m looking forward to seeing what will happen at her next session." Mum, Wiltshire
Nutrition
Nikki and Laura firmly believe in the power of the mind-gut connection and the bi-directional feedback between the two.
They are on hand to provide nutrition advice, whether it is providing a detailed protocol or some simple tips to increase your child's nutrient intake they offer a range of services to parents and schools.
Remote food sensitivity and deficiency testing is also available.
Gut & Psychology Syndrome
Dr Natasha the creator of the Gut & Psychology Syndrome and Gut & Physiology Syndrome (GAPS) nutritional protocol has a degree in medicine and post-graduate degrees in neurology and human nutrition.
When her son was diagnosed with autism, she looked at ways to support him. She discovered the vital connection between the health of a person's gut and the health of their brain, as well as the rest of their body. As a result, Dr Natasha has designed a highly successful protocol to support neurodivergent children and their parents.
Laura is a Certified GAPS Practitioner (CGP).
Avoidant & Restrictive Eaters
Nikki and Laura are now going into their second year of delivering their healthy eating habits workshops in schools and Laura has been delivering one-to-one and family sessions for restrictive eaters for almost three-years.
These often tailored sessions draw on nutrition, Systematic Kinesiology® and play based therapy to increase confidence and education around food. This includes debunking some common food myths, how to get nutrients into a restricted diet, boost absorption etc. Also, tips on how to add to the 'safe' list of foods and navigating smells and textures.
"My boys loved it. Thank you so much. Now they muscle test most things they eat. They are certainly willing to try new things because their bodies say it's good." Mum, Somerset