Children's Emotional Wellbeing
> Aynur Bailey
With over 20 years of experience in Education, including 15 years as a high school Modern Foreign Language teacher, I have grown increasingly concerned about the lack of adequate support for children's emotional and mental wellbeing.
After working at an SEMH Resource Base for children with social, emotional, and mental health needs, I trained as an Emotional Literacy Support Assistant (ELSA) and took on this role at a local primary school. Eager to deepen my understanding of how to help children navigate their challenges, I went on to train as a Drawing and Talking practitioner, followed by an Advanced Drawing and Talking practitioner course. Through my sessions at the primary school, I have seen firsthand the positive impact of both my ELSA and Drawing and Talking work on children. This has fueled my passion and commitment to making a positive difference to children's lives.
As I became more aware of the growing number of children in need of interventions such as the ones I offer, I also began to feel limited by the time I could dedicate to supporting their social, emotional, and mental health within my school role.This inspired me to pursue a path as an independent practitioner, with the goal of offering my services to the broader community. I wanted to provide local schools, parents, and children with the option of choosing whether to wait for a spot on a long waiting list—possibly not receiving help this academic year or even the next—or to seek support from someone like me, who has the skills and the desire to help.
I am continuously working to expand my knowledge and services, currently engaging with CPD webinars and reading extensively on neurodiversity, mindfulness, and EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, also known as tapping) to further enhance my therapeutic approach. Although my work is centered around helping children, Drawing and Talking is also effective and beneficial for adults of all ages. Therefore, I am eager to expand my experience in supporting adults too.
If my words resonate with you and you’re seeking support for yourself or your child, feel free to reach out – I’d be happy to chat!