Topic: Adapting the Australian Friends for Life Programme for children & young people with learning disabilities – Dr Jane Woodrow
Resources: You can download Jane’s slides.
Session summary: FRIENDS for Life is an evidence based programme that teaches children and young people techniques to cope with anxiety and promotes resilience and well-being. It was developed in Australia and uses a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) framework incorporating attachment, mindfulness and health behaviours in school-based groups. Jane is part of a research team that have been converting the programme for children/young people with learning disabilities and special needs.
In this session Jane will share information about the FRIENDS programme and her experience of adapting it and there will be some practical opportunities to try out some of the exercises. The presentation will also generate discussion and exploration of how concepts of resilience are made meaningful for people with learning disabilities and some of the methodological issues involved in research in this area.
Biography: Jane is a Clinical Psychologist who worked in CAMHS Learning Disabiliy Family Intensive Support Service (East Sussex). This community based mental health service works with children (aged up to 19 years) with a moderate to severe learning disability presenting with behaviour which others find challenging. It is a multi-disciplinary team who work closely in partnership with families and systems around the children. Jane’s clinical work draws upon The Family Partnership Model (Davies et al 2002 – external link), systemic theory & practice and she has a keen interest in using resilience and strength based models and in collaborative working practices.
Most interested: Likely to have broad appeal for practitioners, researchers, students, parents, carers, community workers, volunteers, and public sector workers.
This session took place on Wednesday 15 January 2014.
The Resilience Forum is for ANYBODY (with a pulse!) involved with or interested in resilience research!
