The Local Therapy Company

21/11/2025

All of our Reiki slots have been booked up for the last few dates. We have 1 date left for 12th December. Parents, get in touch for some relaxation time in the run up to a very busy festive time 🎄🎄🎄

16/11/2025

Really good advice welcome, to help get ahead of christmas preparations 🎄🎄🎄

According to the song, “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” but for me, Christmas has always been a mix of excitement and challenge. From October onwards, I love preparing for the season—choosing and making meaningful gifts, poring over festive recipes, and planning a show-stopping dessert for the big day. But when it comes to the actual days of Christmas, I’ve always found them difficult. 

For me, Christmas feels unpredictable, overwhelming, and full of "enforced fun." While this isn’t how my Christmas looks now, my brain still processes it rigidly, tied to how I experienced it as a child. And I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. 

If you’re supporting an autistic child who experiences anxiety around Christmas, there are ways to make the season more manageable and enjoyable for them. 

Minimise sensory overload: Lights, loud music, and crowded spaces can be overwhelming. Create quieter, low-sensory spaces at home, and consider leaving some areas undecorated to maintain a sense of familiarity. Providing a designated quiet area can also give your child a safe retreat when they need it. 

Adapt traditions: Most families have their own festive traditions, but these can be adjusted to help your child participate comfortably. Share the reasons for these adjustments with family members and ask for their understanding and patience—it can make a big difference. 

Maintain routines: Stick to regular meal and sleep schedules as much as possible to provide stability.

Consider telling your child what they are getting for Christmas: For my son, knowing exactly what gifts he’s receiving helps to reduce his anxiety and makes Christmas morning less stressful. We have a letter from the main man himself in our Christmas download pack!

Plan for after Christmas: The adjustment period post-Christmas is just as important as the lead-up. It can take time for children to transition back to their usual routines, so give yourself time to reflect on what worked and what might need tweaking for next year. 

By tailoring the Christmas experience to meet your child’s unique needs, you can create a celebration that feels less overwhelming and more joyful.

06/11/2025

06/11/2025

I’ve realised it is Stress Awareness week this week, great timing for my talk on EFT with Autism Learns this weekend.

A little realisation this morning whilst on my walk… self care really needs to fit with the capacity you have to do the self care thing! Whatever it is you choose to spend time doing to support yourself has to compliment the resources you have to be able to actually do it.

We can all have good intentions to go for a walk, gym, meditate, even tap but sometimes if we don’t have the emotional, physical & cognitive capacity to do it, we risk it becoming another task, a chore even, putting more pressure on ourselves.

As parents, we’re stretched in all directions adding in extra things may not always be a realistic possibility.

This is one of the reasons I like EFT or tapping so much. I can spend longer doing this if I have time and the energy but if I’m quite stressed or squeezed in other areas, simply tapping for a few minutes can also work.

EFT is flexible, adaptable and always available 😊

05/11/2025

Autism Learns – Understanding Sensory Processing & Autism, 7th & 8th November 2025

I am excited to be part of this 2-day webinar which aims to explore evidence-based and neurodiversity-affirming approaches to understanding sensory processing and experience for autistic people.

I'll be speaking about something slightly different to usual- how parents can use a stress reduction tool called EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) 😀 An amazing & effective self-management tool for stress/anxiety that quite frankly more people need to know about!

Find out more about the great lineup of speakers & to book here.

https://www.autismlearns.co.uk/understanding-sensory-processing-autism-4/

30/10/2025

20/09/2025

Discovering You're Autistic is a short animated film that explores what it means to be Autistic through a neuro-affirming lens underpinned by the social mode...

18/09/2025

At LTC, our Therapists have a high level of skills & experience and strive to work collaboratively with children/young people, their families and the professionals that support them.

We are highly adaptable in meeting the diverse needs of our clients, whether that be in a more formal process, such as EHCPs/SEN tribunals, delivering training or working directly with them & their support networks to help make meaningful progress.

All our therapists have undertaken postgraduate training in sensory integration and embed this approach in their practice.

A little video about what we do.....

18/09/2025

We have 1 slot left for parent reiki on the 26th September at 11am. 😀

These are being funded by APTCOO and are being held at Tall Trees, Retford. Booking via myself through messenger or email

sam@thelocaltherapycompany.co.uk

Ready to relax & reset for the weekend 🙏

12/09/2025

We’ve been up to something a bit different today 😊

Meeting with a group of parents for an introduction to EFT/tapping to support parent well-being and delivering relaxing reiki sessions.

We’re really excited & proud to be offering a holistic approach for families.

Reach out to us if you would like to know more and keep your eyes peeled for updates about our new services on this page 👀

01/09/2025

Back to school this week for many, that may mean some breathing space for you or maybe it’s a continuation of work, life, meetings, appointments, negotiations ( with professionals & your child 🫩) & emails. It can feel like it never stops!

We get it, we see you keep going, putting yourself further down the list of to dos but this can take its toll. You deserve time, support & rest too. Let us help you take a much needed pause.

Our reiki slots are booking up, get in touch to secure yours. Being held at Tall Trees in Retford in collaboration with & funded by A Place to Call Our Own in Bassetlaw

sam@thelocaltherapycompany.co.uk

We are delighted to be partnering with APTCOO in Retford & included in their therapeutic services for parents from September.

Why Reiki?
🔸Reiki is gentle, relaxing & restorative for mind, body & soul

Parenting children with SEN/additional needs takes a great deal of mental, emotional & physical energy. Looking after our own reserves is just as important as making sure those we love are happy and have their needs met.

🔸Uninterrupted ‘you time’
🔸Time to relax, release, recharge
🔸A sense of ease & peace

Provided by our fully insured reiki practitioner who also has lived experience.

Dates:
🔸12th September AM
🔸26th September AM
🔸10th October AM

Message or email to book
your slot 🙂
sam@thelocaltherapycompany.co.uk

09/08/2025

Handy travel tips to suppprt regulation:

🔸Prep a few days/week before - show your child pictures if possible of where you are staying, decide with them what to bring in the car to do, snacks, clothes to take, etc
🔸Your kiddo might enjoying creating lists to help you prep.
🔸Chat about what you will do when your away
🔸Travel sickness patches/bands
🔸Window sun shades/sunglasses
🔸Pack the night before- free up the morning of to handle any last minute hiccups, uncertainty, meltdowns
🔸Wear comfy clothes
🔸Noise cancelling headphones/ear plugs- for you too to help with lots of singing/chat or sounds from electronic devices.
🔸Take turns with your travel partner who will drive, wearing headphones, etc to share the load.
🔸Something to chew and crunch
🔸 Drinks from a sports type bottle
🔸Soft teddies/fave toy
🔸Hand fidgets
🔸Plan in rest breaks
🔸Check your route beforehand and see where you can avoid any delays
🔸Distraction games to hand - eye spy a certain colour/object, I went to the shop, count the cars/lorries

Do you have anymore to add?

Picture for interest🙂