The clinical staff at The Place2Be come from a broad range of theoretical backgrounds. Over the years this breadth of experience has shaped how we deliver the service in schools. The service in turn has enabled a core therapeutic model to evolve which reflects the diversity of the organisation but is also something substantial in its own right.
The core elements of The Place2Be can be described under four headings which are the cornerstones of the organisation: Relationship, Self awareness, Play and Change. The quality of the therapeutic relationship is one of the most accurate predictor of outcomes. A safe and helpful therapeutic relationship depends on a high level of self awareness from the therapist. Play is the language of the child and a vital part of child development. The therapist needs to be able to join the child in their play in order to properly hear what the child wants to express. It is a combination of these three elements that affect the fourth: positive change for the child.
These four elements provide a framework of reference for every stage of the therapeutic process. The Place2Be core model uses this framework to integrate ideas and techniques from a variety of approaches. It acknowledges the history and influence of psychodynamic thinking, as well as embracing systems theory and the core conditions of the person centred approach. At the centre of The Place2Be core model is an understanding of attachment theory and developments in this field and the field of neurobiology.
The Place2Be works with children and adults from a broad range of social, racial and cultural backgrounds and acknowledges the need to be flexible in its approach ensuring that each therapeutic contract or referral respects the unique needs of every client. The Place2Be core model’s focus is on the effective common factors of different theoretical models rather than on the techniques used in the room. The Place2Be’s four elements reflect these common factors.