This course addresses the importance and progressiveness of working with Touch as a way of communicating understanding, safety and respite from a foundation of affection and sensitive caring to those who have additional learning needs including autism.

During this one day experience you will learn the neuroscience behind the importance of affective touch in terms of how the individual adapts to the environment / the child’s psychological development / motor, cognitive and affective development / the development of language and of healthy behaviour and appropriate socialisation.

Course aims:

The aims are to give you a good grounding in working with the Sense of Touch as well as a springboard into creative movement techniques for building trust and relationship, for easing anxiety and developing a sense of joy. This grounding can be implemented into your work with both children and adults.

Designed for:

This course is for all helping professionals such as support workers, social workers; teachers, Parents as well as psychologists and therapists. It is for you if you care for someone at home or as a job.

About the trainer:

Karen Woodley is a Registered Dance Movement Psychotherapist and Clinical Supervisor working with psychotherapeutic counsellors and the health professions. She has a wealth of experience with clients who have learning disabilities. Karen was the lead training coordinator and senior session leader at the Touch Trust where she organised, presented and delivered their accredited training programme, ran parent groups and their one day workshops for communicating through touch.