SELENOS

Case Studies

Safe Enough to Feel

Building Trust and Processing Trauma Through Psychotherapy and EMDR

Rewriting the Script

Building Regulation and Safety Through Drama Therapy

Calming the Chaos

Supporting Emotional Regulation Through Sensory Integration

Finding Her Voice

Supporting Communication and Connection Through Speech and Language Therapy

More Than a Visit

Rebuilding Sibling Bonds Through Relational Practice

Testimonals

I am very pleased with the excellent support provided to both Gemma [carer] and Saeed [young person.] It has significantly influenced the stability of the placement and ensured Gemma receives strong support. Saeed’s developing relationship with his therapist is a welcome development. I look forward to seeing him explore his past experiences more deeply and strengthen his bond with Gemma further.

Children’s Social Worker

The impact on Angel is huge. Selenos helps keep placements stable by giving foster carers really personalised support for both themselves and the young person. It's not a quick fix and needs dedication from the carers, but it's a great system for children with more complex and challenging needs.

Children’s Social Worker

It has helped us remain child-focused and really understand Tilly’s behaviour and her outbursts. It has given us strategies when she was going through a very low point and helped us not to take things personally. Without this, the placement may have failed as, at times, we were struggling with our own problems. Tilly has become more settled, happier. She’s rarely as low as she was, and she’s thriving at school all because we’ve had the right support and guidance to help her.

Foster Carer

The provision has been excellent such a lovely team with so much passion, experience and knowledge.

Children’s Social Worker

Help to see Ellie’s perspective has greatly helped us find compassion, even for her repetitive behaviours that can be exhausting. We've developed resilience and are less concerned about perfect behaviour. Regular support from Selenos is like life support—we care for ourselves and Ellie. This approach has made our family calmer, and we can better address our needs, our birth family's needs, and Ellie’s needs.

Foster Carer

I think working together as a team is key in caregiving. As a support worker, I spend a lot of time filling out forms and often end up repeating the same info. That's why Selenos Review meetings are such a nice change. Sure, attending training helps me learn new things, but the support from Selenos lets me put what I've learned into practice right away, in a way that fits each child's unique needs. Even if the issues seem similar, they show up differently as the child grows and changes.

Residential Support Worker

It’s not an exaggeration to say this is my dream job, supporting the supporters to make a real difference in a child’s life.

Selenos Systemic Therapist

It was close, we even gave notice on Eric’s placement but the work with Selenos really helped. Now I can’t imagine that he won’t be with us until he reaches adulthood.

Residential Home Manager

Our regular peer support sessions, enable me to work relationally to a degree I have not experienced before. A steep and hugely beneficial learning curve that helps me to interpret communicative behaviours through a relational lens and tailor my approach accordingly.

Selenos Speech and Language Therapist

Safe Enough to Feel Building Trust and Processing Trauma Through Psychotherapy and EMDR

Background

Amir, a 14-year-old boy, had been in care for several years following early experiences of domestic violence and neglect. Though his current placement was stable, Amir struggled with intense mood swings, sudden shutdowns, and a deep mistrust of adults. His carers described him as “a mystery” — bright and articulate one moment, withdrawn and unreachable the next. School staff noted that he often seemed “somewhere else,” zoning out during lessons or reacting with disproportionate anger to minor frustrations.

Presenting Needs

Amir’s behaviours were rooted in complex trauma. He had developed protective strategies to survive early chaos—strategies that now interfered with his ability to form relationships, regulate emotions, and engage with learning. He needed a space where he could begin to make sense of his experiences, at his own pace, without pressure or judgment.

Therapeutic Intervention

Amir began weekly psychotherapy sessions with a Selenos therapist. The early work focused on building trust—offering a consistent, attuned presence that didn’t demand disclosure or performance. The therapist used a relational, non-directive approach, allowing Amir to lead the pace and content of sessions.

Over time, Amir began to share fragments of his story—sometimes through metaphor, sometimes through silence. The therapist helped him notice patterns in his feelings and behaviours, gently linking them to past experiences without overwhelming him. This process of “naming and noticing” gave Amir a new language for understanding himself. Once a strong therapeutic alliance had been established, the therapist introduced EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) to help Amir process specific traumatic memories. The structure and rhythm of EMDR allowed Amir to revisit difficult experiences while staying grounded in the present. He was able to access and reprocess memories that had previously overwhelmed him, reducing their emotional charge and integrating them into his broader narrative.

Carer Involvement

Amir’s carers were supported alongside his therapy. They learned how trauma can shape behaviour and how to respond with curiosity rather than control. They were encouraged to hold boundaries while also offering emotional availability—creating the safety Amir needed to begin letting his guard down.

Outcomes

After several months, Amir began to show subtle but significant changes. He was more able to talk about his feelings, even when they were difficult. He started to recognise when he was becoming overwhelmed and could ask for space rather than shutting down or lashing out. His relationships with his carers deepened, and he became more engaged at school. EMDR helped reduce the intensity of his trauma responses, allowing him to feel more present and in control.

Reflections

This case illustrates the quiet power of psychotherapy, especially when paired with EMDR. There were no dramatic breakthroughs—just a steady, respectful process of helping Amir feel seen, heard, and safe enough to begin healing. As part of the wider Selenos multidisciplinary team, psychotherapy offered a space where Amir could begin to integrate his past and imagine a different future.

Rewriting the Script Building Regulation and Safety Through Drama Therapy

Background

Jonathan, a 16-year-old boy, had been living with his foster carers, Claire and Gordon, for five years. While the placement was long-term and stable on paper, daily life was becoming increasingly strained. Jonathan experienced regular meltdowns, often escalating into violent outbursts. These episodes were taking a toll on the household, leaving Claire and Gordon feeling overwhelmed and close to giving notice. His future in the family was at serious risk.

Presenting Needs

Jonathan’s behaviour was not rooted in defiance—it was a response to unresolved trauma. Despite the support of the wider Selenos multidisciplinary team, it was his drama therapist who helped unlock a path forward. Jonathan needed a way to approach his traumatic experiences safely, without becoming overwhelmed by them. He also needed support in developing emotional regulation and a sense of agency over his responses.

Therapeutic Intervention

Drama therapy offered Jonathan a unique and powerful tool: the ability to explore difficult emotions and memories through story and character. In each session, he consciously stepped into a role—inhabiting a character’s world, feelings, and challenges. Just as importantly, he was supported to “de-role” at the end of each session, returning to himself with care and intention.

This process of roleing and de-roleing created a safe structure for Jonathan to move toward his trauma and then away from it. Over time, this repeated experience helped him internalise a sense of control and distance—he began to understand that the trauma was in the past, and he could choose how close to get to it.

Carer Involvement

Alongside Jonathan’s therapy, Claire and Gordon were supported by the Selenos team to better understand his emotional cues. They learned to gently notice and name when Jonathan was becoming upset, without escalating or demanding immediate resolution. This gave Jonathan thespace to recognise his own feelings and decide when he was ready to talk. It was a subtle but powerful shift—from reacting to regulating.

Outcomes

Over six months, Jonathan’s relationship with his drama therapist deepened. He began to engage more directly with his traumatic experiences, using the safety of the therapeutic frame to process them. At home, he learned to recognise when he was triggered and take time to calm down. While meltdowns didn’t disappear entirely, they became far less frequent—and the violent behaviour stopped altogether.

Reflections

This case illustrates the transformative potential of drama therapy. By offering a creative, embodied way to explore trauma, it gave Jonathan a sense of control and safety he hadn’t experienced before. The work was not OK in isolation—it was part of a coordinated response from the Selenos multidisciplinary team. But it was the drama therapy that helped Jonathan rewrite his internal script, making it possible for him to stay in a family that loved him.

Calming the Chaos Supporting Emotional Regulation Through Sensory Integration

Background

June, a dedicated foster carer, had been caring for two sisters—Josie and Charlotte—for over a year. Despite her commitment, she was on the verge of giving notice. The daily school transition had become a flashpoint of distress and danger. In the car, the girls’ anxiety would escalate into chaotic behaviour—Charlotte even attempted to cover June’s eyes while driving, forcing her to stop the car. On one terrifying occasion, Josie climbed out of the rear window and ran into the road. These incidents left June feeling overwhelmed and unsafe, questioning her ability to continue caring for the children.

Presenting Needs

The girls’ behaviours were not simply “challenging”—they were expressions of deep dysregulation. The transition to school triggered a sensory and emotional overload, particularly for Josie, who displayed a high arousal state. The multidisciplinary team around the family was engaged, but the daily car journey remained a critical point of risk.

Therapeutic Intervention

An occupational therapist from Selenos conducted a sensory profile assessment and identified that Josie’s oral sensory seeking was a key factor in supporting her to emotionally regulate. A simple, targeted intervention was introduced: providing a safe, chewable sensory tool for use during car journeys. This small change gave Josie a way to self-regulate, reducing her anxiety and need for extreme behaviours.

Outcomes

The impact was immediate and profound. With her sensory needs met, Josie became calmer during transitions. The car journeys, once fraught with danger, became manageable. June reported feeling safer and more confident in her ability to care for the girls. The intervention not only supported the children’s regulation but also preserved a stable, nurturing placement.

Reflections

This case highlights how a single, well-targeted sensory intervention can make a significant difference—but it’s important to note that this was just one piece of a much more complex picture. Josie and Charlotte’s needs were being supported by a full Selenos multidisciplinary team (MDT), including psychotherapy and speech and language therapy professionals. The success of this intervention was made possible by the collaborative, wraparound approach that underpins all our work. Our Occupational Therapy and Sensory Integration service plays a vital role within this wider system of care—helping children feel safe in their bodies so they can begin to feel safe in the world.

Finding Her Voice Supporting Communication and Connection Through Speech and Language Therapy

Background

Ellie, a 9-year-old girl in long-term foster care, had a history of early neglect and inconsistent caregiving. While she had settled into her current placement, she remained withdrawn and often non-verbal in both home and school settings. Her carers described her as “quiet but kind,” though they worried that her silence masked deeper struggles. Ellie rarely initiated conversation, avoided eye contact, and often appeared overwhelmed in group settings.

Presenting Needs

Ellie’s communication difficulties were not simply developmental—they were rooted in trauma. Her early experiences had disrupted the foundational stages of language development and left her without the confidence or tools to express herself. She struggled with both receptive and expressive language, and her limited ability to name or describe her feelings often led to internalised distress or sudden emotional outbursts.

Therapeutic Intervention

A speech and language therapist from the Selenos team began working with Ellie using a trauma- informed approach. Sessions focused on building a safe, predictable space where Ellie could explorelanguage through play, storytelling, and visual supports. The therapist used a combination of symbol-supported communication, role play, and structured conversation scaffolds to help Ellie find words for her experiences.

One key strategy was co-creating a “feelings book” with Ellie—a visual diary where she could match pictures to emotions and gradually add her own words. This gave her a way to communicate even when speaking felt too hard. Over time, Ellie began to use the book at home and in school to let adults know how she was feeling and what she needed.

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Ellie’s carers were supported to use the same visual tools and language strategies at home. They learned to pause, wait, and give Ellie time to respond—reducing pressure and increasing her confidence. They also began to model emotional language more explicitly, helping Ellie connect words to her internal states.

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Over several months, Ellie’s confidence grew. She began to initiate short conversations, ask for help,and even share stories about her day. Her emotional outbursts decreased, and she became moreengaged in classroom activities. Most importantly, Ellie began to see herself as someone who could be heard—and who had something to say.

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This case highlights the vital role of speech and language therapy in supporting children who have experienced trauma. Communication is more than words—it’s connection, safety, and identity. By giving Ellie the tools to express herself, the therapy helped her build stronger relationships and a more stable sense of self. As part of the wider Selenos multidisciplinary team, the speech andlanguage therapist helped unlock a key piece of Ellie’s healing journey.

More Than a Visit Rebuilding Sibling Bonds Through Relational Practice

Background

Bryan (14) and Steven (12) are brothers living in separate foster homes. Though both placements were stable—Bryan with carers Mo and Nisha, and Steven with Helen and Winston—their sibling visits had become increasingly difficult. The boys would arrive dysregulated, overwhelmed by the emotional intensity of seeing each other. Bryan often became loud and impulsive, while Steven would shut down or lash out. Visits were ending early, carers were growing anxious, and the boys’ relationship—already strained by separation—was beginning to unravel.

Presenting Needs

The challenges weren’t just behavioural—they were relational. Bryan and Steven had different sensory profiles and communication styles. Bryan sought stimulation to regulate, while Steven truggled with auditory processing and often misinterpreted his brother’s energy as aggression. The visits were emotionally loaded, and the lack of structure and predictability only added to the stress. Carers were unsure how to help, and the risk of visits being reduced or stopped was growing.

Relational Intervention

Rather than focusing solely on the boys, the Selenos team worked relationally — bringing together carers, therapists, speech and language specialists, and occupational therapists to form a shared understanding.

• The SLT highlighted how language differences were fuelling misunderstandings.

• The OT explained how sensory overload was triggering dysregulation.

• The therapists explored the boys’ early relational patterns and how these were playing out in their current dynamic.

• The carers shared their observations and concerns, which were validated and explored in reflective space.

Together, the team co-created a new approach to visits. Sessions were moved to a consistent, child-friendly venue—a community space where the boys could feel safe and familiar. Visits were structured with gentle transitions, sensory supports, and shared activities that allowed the brothers to connect without pressure. Carers were supported to prepare the boys beforehand and debrief afterwards. Between visits, the boys exchanged drawings and voice notes to maintain a sense of connection.

Therapeutic Work

Alongside the relational planning, both Bryan and Steven were engaged in individual therapy. As their sense of safety grew, their therapy began to explore family dynamics—helping them process their early experiences, the loss of their shared home, and the evolving nature of their relationship. They began to understand that their behaviours during visits were not failures, but expressions of grief, confusion, and longing. This insight helped them approach each other with more empathy and less fear.

Outcomes

The change was profound. The boys began to look forward to their visits. They were able to stay regulated for longer, and their interactions became more playful and affectionate. Carers reported feeling more confident and supported, and their motivation to sustain contact was renewed. The boys’ relationship, once at risk, began to grow again; rooted in safety, understanding, and shared joy.

Reflections

This case illustrates the heart of Selenos’ relational practice: healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens in community. By weaving together the insights and care of everyone around the child, we create a network of safety and connection. This is what it means to build a community around the child.