Therapy Foundations For Education

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Therapy Foundations For Education

We are an independent service combining occupational therapy and education for children with special educational needs.

We specialise in sensory integration and work with children on the autistic spectrum, children with dyspraxia and DCD. About Us

Therapy Foundations is a service that provides occupational therapy and educational support to enable children to become more confident and and successful with skills they need to help them play better, perform better at home and at school and to communicate and develop social skills. We look at children’s motor skills, sensory development , thinking and reasoning skills, self regulation and social skills . The primary aim is to identify ,where possible, the causes of the child’s difficulty in order to help parents and other professionals understand the needs of the child and to intervene with an appropriate programme that will relate directly to the area in which the child is having problems. An evidence based approach to assessment and treatment is used to ensure that positive change is occurring .On going communication with parents (who are always present during assessment) and teachers is always welcomed and encouraged. The child-focused approach begins with an initial pre assessment questionnaire and prior to assessment full discussion takes place with the therapist (and if requested the teacher ) to ensure parents concerns and issues are addressed. Assessment takes the form of skill based standardised and non standardised assessment, criteria based assessment and clinicial observation assessment. Sensory integration assessment is undertaken by a SIPT Certified practitioner . The assessment is based on our BUILDING BLOCKS model of practice. The information is then written up for parents to understand better the findings of the assessment and the difficulties highlighted. Information in the form of customised handouts and advice sheets are then given to parents. At this point consultation will take place with the therapist and teacher (if requested ) who will agree intervention against specific measurable goals and agreed outcomes. Intervention is guided by exsisting and current evidence. We develop skills and strategies which relate directly to the presenting difficulty and the acquisition of necessary foundation skills to support desired outcomes. Specialist interventions include:

• Sensory Integration Therapy
• Greenspan Floor time Intervention
• Motor development and co ordination programme
• Listening Programme

24/03/2026

Regulation is connected to our sensory system

5 external senses
Sight 👀
Hearing 👂🏽
Smell 👃🏽
Taste 👅
Touch 👌

3 Internal senses
Vestibular – balance ⚖
Proprioceptive – muscle joint 💪🏽
Interoception – internal body signals 🚾😴🤒

What you need to regulate your nervous system will also be a sensory need

Ways to regulate at home:
🏡 First slow your body down
• Sit or lie down lengthen your exhale
• Focus on your breath – slow deep
• Wrap up in a blanket or hold something warm like a cup of tea
• Gentle movement - stretching, walking, tidying

🏡 Create sensory safety
• Low lighting
• Soothing music
• Connection with pets
• Routine – getting up, eating, moving
• Reduce noise and overstimulation

Your body always knows what it needs

Do you recognise your body talking to you?

23/03/2026

22/03/2026

Regulation is:

✨ Your nervous system feeling safe enough to respond, not react
✨ Being able to pause, think and choose your response
✨ Moving through emotions without becoming overwhelmed
✨ Returning to a place of reset after stress

It’s not about being calm all the time…
It’s about being able to come back to you

Regulation is NOT:

🚫 Suppressing emotions
🚫 “Just calming down”
🚫 forcing yourself to relax or stop
🚫 Ignoring stress or pushing through
🚫 Being in control

Regulation includes feeling But without becoming stuck or overwhelmed

21/03/2026

Ways To Regulate Your Nervous System

Nervous system regulation doesn’t happen through willpower, it happens through supportive experiences

Things that can help regulate our nervous system include:

• slow breathing
• gentle movement
• time in nature
• grounding through the body
• safe connection with others
• sensory regulation
• therapeutic support

Small daily practices helping your body learn it is safe

Regulation is not about never feeling stress — it’s about being able to return to balance

If your nervous system feels overwhelmed or stuck in survival mode, support is available

Integrative Therapy NI can help you reconnect with safety, regulation and resilience

Bringing You back to YOU

20/03/2026

What We Eat Matters!!

Food and nutrition effect our mood and nervous system

What we eat doesn’t just fuel our body

Food also influences our nervous system and mood

Stable blood sugar helps support emotional regulation

When our body lacks nutrients or experiences blood sugar spikes and crashes, we may notice:

• irritability
• anxiety
• fatigue
• difficulty concentrating

Nutrients that support mood and nervous system health include:

• protein – Eggs
• healthy fats – Olive Oil
• magnesium - Spinach
• omega-3 – Chia Seeds
• B vitamins – Dairy

Our gut is connected to our brain – What we eat matters, nutrition matters

Supporting our body through nutrition can be an important part of overall wellbeing

18/03/2026

16/03/2026

What A Dysregulated Nervous System Can Feel Like?

Many people experience nervous system dysregulation without realising what is happening

FIGHT FLIGHT FREEZE FAWN

It can feel like:
• always being on edge
• feeling overwhelmed by small things
• difficulty relaxing or resting
• emotional outbursts
• unable to say NO
• people pleasing
• fatigue or shutdown
• numbness or disconnection
• difficulty concentrating

I hear a lot from clients, friends and family
"I don’t know why I feel like this"

It happens when the nervous system has been carrying stress for a long time

You’re not broken

Your body is trying to protect you

With the right support, you can start to recognise your body, understand what’s happening, make connections to why and learn how to regulate your nervous system

Integrative Therapy NI connecting the dots and bringing you back to YOU

15/03/2026

How Stress Affects Our Nervous System

Stress is something our body experiences

When our nervous system senses stress, it activates our survival response

This can feel like
• increased heart rate
• shallow breathing
• muscle tension
• racing thoughts
• feeling on edge

This automatic response can be helpful in short bursts

When stress becomes consistent our nervous system can remain stuck in high alert

This can lead to
• anxiety
• sleep difficulties
• digestive issues
• emotional overwhelm
• burnout

Learning how to regulate your nervous system helps the body move out of survival mode and back to balance – Like hitting RESET

14/03/2026

How The Nervous System Is Connected To Mood, Mental Health and Wellbeing?

Mood and Wellbeing isn’t just about our thoughts, it’s deeply connected to our nervous system

When our nervous system is regulated we feel
• calm
• focused
• connected
• emotionally balanced

When our nervous system is dysregulated we may experience
• anxiety
• overwhelm
• irritability
• racing thoughts
• shutdown

Our nervous system is constantly scanning the environment for safety or danger

If it senses danger, even stress, our body prepares for survival – FIGHT FLIGHT FREEZE FAWN

Over time this can make us feel stuck in patterns of anxiety, burnout or emotional exhaustion

A therapy that includes body awareness and nervous system regulation can is very powerful

Healing isn’t only about understanding your thoughts, it’s also about helping your body feel safe again

Address

39 Regents Wood
Craigavon
BT670RX

Telephone

078 49748047

Website

http://www.therapyfoundationsforeducation.co.uk/

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