CHILD and Family Services held a symposium at their new Care Farm in Springmount last Thursday, 21 March, teaching \u2018out of the box\u2019 strategies to those working to support people who have experienced attachment disruption and trauma.<\/p>\n
With the theme of \u2018Get Grounded\u2019 and a focus on learning, growing and healing through farming practice, attendees engaged with the psychological and occupational therapy practices and theories of skilled presenters.<\/p>\n
The professionals learnt new compassionate and creative ways to help children and families recover and grow after trauma.<\/p>\n
Psychologist, Jamie Tanner is the founder and president of Texan care farm, Simple Sparrow. Her expert area is How-To Care Farm.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe point of a care farm is we\u2019re looking at how to integrate therapeutic methods with practical farming techniques\u2026 how do you actually run a farm? Those practical things,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the clients that come out, it is meaningful, functional and fun. So we\u2019re not directing them to an activity just to build those neurological things that they need in their brain to heal, we\u2019re actually giving them a sense of purpose in their work and what they\u2019re doing,\u201d Ms Tanner said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so natural and so it boosts a lot of confidence.<\/p>\n
We can create a space and give time for people to earn compassion and care. It\u2019s teaching them to be focussed outward and to see they really do have a meaningful purpose in life and that they can be contributing members to the community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Co-founder of Simple Sparrow, Marti Smith is also the President and CEO of Creative Therapies.<\/p>\n
As an Occupational Therapist she specialises in trauma and sensory regulation, and presented sessions on the Healing Power of Lycra.<\/p>\n
Ms Smith addressed inexpensive ways to use Lycra to help children and adults deal with stress and achieve calmness, including the vestibular swing technique. Her motto is \u201ccan\u2019t hurt, might help.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJust like massage, it releases feel good chemicals. Sometimes the position your body is in or the way we interact with each other can change the chemicals in the brain as well,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m working to change brain chemistry, from an outside-in approach. It\u2019s about supporting children and adults who have confusing behaviours to be able to identify the why behind them, so we can build relationships to support them.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ballarat Clinical Psychologist, Chelle Taylor also presented a Canine Assisted Therapy session.<\/p>\n
Megan Wilson travelled from Bendigo to attend the symposium as an Occupational Therapist. She was excited to meet Ms Smith, an OT idol of hers.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, it\u2019s definitely been inspirational, and it\u2019s exposure to relatively new frameworks within Australia and evidence-based research,\u201d Ms Wilson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs a society we don\u2019t tend to look after our most vulnerable people and it\u2019s really exciting to see that there\u2019s so much energy and evidence to support the growth and healing of the most vulnerable people in our community.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
CHILD and Family Services held a symposium at their new Care Farm in Springmount last Thursday, 21 March, teaching \u2018out of the box\u2019 strategies to those working to support people who have experienced attachment disruption and trauma. With the theme of \u2018Get Grounded\u2019 and a focus on learning, growing and healing through farming practice, attendees […]<\/p>\n