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Hey there! So, you might be wondering why you're coming to Bridge the Gap, right? Well, guess what? It's not because you did anything wrong or because something's wrong with you. Coming here is all about learning about emotions and mental health, for everyone - even grown-ups! We're like your emotional guide, here to help you through tricky thoughts and feelings. Think of it as swimming lessons, but for your emotions! 🌟

 

Our sessions are safe, fun and unique, just for you. We've got cosy rooms filled with lots of lovely things, plus, we've got sessions for all ages, from 5 to 19! You're not alone - we're here for you, every step of the way. So, let's dive in together and explore the amazing world of emotions! 🌈

 

It's normal to feel nervous, excited or worried about starting sessions; we all feel this way sometimes about starting something new! We are really looking forward to meeting you and getting to know you to see if we can help out with some of the difficult thoughts or feelings you might be experiencing. We love to support you with your mental health and wellbeing - there are lots of ways we can do this. You might hear our sessions called 'Emotional Literacy' sessions, this is true but they are also based on learning about all aspects of well-being such as our self-esteem (how we feel about ourselves), our goals and values, and coping strategies for difficult times.

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The sessions we will be having are unique to you, because we are all so different and each one of us like to learn differently. If you don't feel like you are enjoying the sessions you can talk to us and we can come up with some new ideas together.

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We are not going to make you do or say anything that you don't feel comfortable to.

what to expect

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sessions at the hub

Our hub is called 'The Rainbow Place'

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Your time at Bridge the Gap will be spent in either The Rainbow, The Sunlight, The Nest, The Greenery, The Cloud Room or the Dream Room. These rooms are full of lovely things and are very homely spaces. Bridge the Gap is a safe space that was created by someone who understands how difficult it can be to come to something new; you will not be made to do anything that you don't want to.

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We are not a school, we are a neutral space for people of all ages to feel supported and heard and to attend fun clubs and sessions. Sessions last around 45 minutes.

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We use lots of different ways to explore different topics, each session is unique for you. Some young people worry that sessions might be 'babyish' but we have resources and sessions for all ages. 

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We see children from the ages of five to 19 years old so there is something for everyone. If you have a question you would like to ask before the next session then please just ask your parent or carer to get in touch with us, we will be happy to answer.

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You come into sessions on your own, your grown up can stay just outside. If you would like to show them the room on the first session then you can do, likewise you may wish to keep the space just for you, that's fine as well.

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sessions at school

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If 1:1 sessions are taking place at your school a teacher will bring you down to meet your *practitioner in a separate, quiet room. Our sessions will be about 45 minutes long. 

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Although you are in school we do all we can to make the space feel comfortable and agree with school that the space we are in is completely private. 

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*practitioner is the name used to describe the person who you will be seeing but you will call them by their first name.

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what is emotional literacy?

We feel sometimes that we are stuck in a 'Happiness Trap' where we are always just trying to be happy all of the time. But this isn't normal - we are human, we experience a whole lot of different emotions and feelings. Emotional Literacy sessions try to help us understand that all of these feelings are completely normal - we can't be happy all of the time, and that's ok!

 

We will explore emotions and thoughts and how we might have gotten 'stuck' in the happiness trap. We will also look at how to sit with and move through difficult emotions, and learn much more about how to accept and manage our emotions. 

 

Emotional literacy helps us to learn more about how emotions feel in our body and what thoughts we might have when we experience that feeling. We will look at coping strategies to help us feel better when we experience all of these normal emotions.

emotional literacy

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adult and child sessions

At Bridge the Gap, we get that exploring new things feels better with someone you trust by your side. That's why we've got special sessions just for children like you and your trusted adult. We want you to feel safe and comfortable while you learn about important stuff.

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We've got all kinds of sessions for children and adults of different ages, so you can find the perfect one for you. Our place is warm and friendly, and in our sessions, you can be as quiet or as talkative as you like. It's totally up to you!

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We talk about lots of topics like feeling worried, being confident, sleeping well, staying calm, and dealing with tough emotions. Our goal is to give you and your adult important information that really makes a difference.

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Got questions about a session? Just ask your adult to get in touch with us🌟

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🌟 Bridge the Gap Adult and Child Sessions 🌟

✨ Discover the Power of Togetherness: Join our special sessions designed for children and their trusted adults.

🌈 Diverse Topics, Creative Exploration: Explore themes like anxiety, confidence, mindfulness, and more in a warm and welcoming environment.

🤔 Your Choice, Your Pace: Whether you prefer quiet moments or engaging discussions, we respect your journey.

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Empowerment Through Information: Gain valuable insights that make a difference in your lives.

📞 Have Questions? Contact Us: Your adult can reach out for more information about specific sessions.

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Bridge the Gap - Nurturing Connections, Empowering Journeys!

telephone assessments

What to Expect from Your Telephone Assessment with Bridge the Gap Child Mental Health
The call will last for 45 minutes, during which we will discuss the issues you’re facing or, if you’re accessing support proactively, what led you to choose Bridge the Gap. We will ask about how your child behaves both at home and school, such as whether they cry, shout, complain of stomach aches or other physical symptoms, throw things etc. We are also interested in their interests, how they engage with school, and their strengths.​

A key part of the assessment is understanding what you hope to achieve from your child’s sessions with us; this ensures that our goals align. At Bridge the Gap, we believe that emotional literacy support isn’t a quick fix but a foundation for long-term mental health. Your insights are crucial as they help us guide you in implementing these tools at home. How adults in a child's life  respond to their emotions  can significantly impact the effectiveness of our interventions.

We offer 12-weeks of sessions for children and will establish some targets which can be updated. These will be shared with you before your child’s second session. Following the call, you will receive an email with further details, including a discount code to access our online learning resources. This helps you stay aligned with the support your child receives. Please ensure you read through this information carefully.

What Happens When a Space is Offered?
Once a space is available, our admin team will contact you to arrange an appointment. Once agreed, you’ll receive a user agreement to sign—this must be completed before sessions can begin. We will also send a letter to your child’s GP and school to inform them of the support being provided. If you would prefer not to notify the school, please let us know during the assessment.

To prepare for the call, we recommend visiting our 1:1 support page to familiarise yourself with the services we offer. Being well-prepared will help you make the most of the assessment, many families find making notes beforehand useful.

Finally, we will need to end the call promptly after 45 minutes, the last 10 minutes of the call will be for the practitioner to complete a risk assessment and summarise key points. Don’t worry if you become emotional during the call—this is perfectly normal, and we are here to listen and support you.

We look forward to speaking with you!

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