The mentoring model
At The Kitchen Table Therapy is a creative therapeutic mentoring approach that combines the well-established GROW coaching model with nurturing elements designed for children and young people. By acknowledging emotional and relational needs surrounding trauma, adversity, school avoidance, and mental health challenges, I create a safe space in Marlborough where young people feel truly heard, accepted, and empowered to grow at their own pace.
The At the Kitchen Table Therapy Model
At the Kitchen Table Therapy is a creative therapeutic mentoring approach that combines the well-established GROW coaching model with additional elements that recognise the emotional and relational needs of children and young people who have experienced trauma, adversity, school avoidance or mental health challenges.
The model has evolved through years of working alongside young people and recognises that lasting change happens when they feel safe, heard and accepted. Sessions are collaborative, creative and always led by the pace of the young person.
The GROW+ Framework
The mentoring process follows six interconnected stages:
Goals – "Me"
Who am I? What would I like to be different? Together we identify realistic, meaningful goals that belong to the young person.
Reality – "I Am"
Exploring where the young person is right now, recognising their strengths, challenges and current circumstances without judgement.
Options – "I Can"
Encouraging creativity and curiosity to discover possible solutions, build confidence and recognise opportunities that may not have been visible before.
Emotions – "I Feel"
Providing a safe space to identify, express and understand emotions, helping the young person develop emotional awareness and regulation.
Perceptions – "I See"
Exploring how experiences, beliefs and assumptions shape the way they view themselves, others and the world, while gently encouraging new perspectives.
Way Forward – "I Know"
Agreeing manageable next steps that the young person feels confident to take, leaving each session with a clear sense of direction and ownership.
How Sessions Work
Every session begins with a gentle check-in, allowing the young person to reflect on how they have been since the previous meeting. This creates continuity, celebrates progress and provides an opportunity to discuss any challenges that may have arisen.
The remainder of the session develops naturally, always moving at the young person's pace. There is no pressure to disclose difficult experiences before they are ready. Building trust and creating a sense of emotional safety are at the heart of every interaction.
Why Art?
Art is not used to produce perfect pictures or to judge artistic ability. Instead, it becomes a therapeutic tool that supports conversation, reflection and self-discovery.
When hands are busy creating, many young people find it easier to talk, think and process difficult experiences. The creative process can bypass barriers that often make direct conversation feel overwhelming, allowing thoughts, feelings and memories to emerge naturally.
Through drawing, painting, collage, clay, crafts or other creative activities, young people can explore their emotions from a different perspective, develop problem-solving skills and begin to recognise their own strengths and resilience.
At the Kitchen Table Therapy believes that creativity is not the outcome—it is the pathway. The artwork simply becomes the bridge that helps each young person discover their own potential, understand themselves more deeply and find their own way forward.