Galina Markova, Our UK Therapeutic Manager for the charity, has taken over this month’s CEO’s Blog and explains why.

As we reflect on Children’s Mental Health Week earlier in February, we are reminded of the importance of fostering resilience, emotional well-being, and stability for children and young people. This year’s theme, ‘Know Yourself, Grow Yourself,’ sought to encourage self-awareness and personal development—key aspects of every individual’s therapeutic journey. While Children’s Mental Health Week brings children’s mental health into focus once a year, at St Christopher’s, and especially for the UK Wraparound service, every week is Mental Health Week. Supporting the psychological and emotional well-being of young people is at the heart of everything we do, every single day.

For children in care, mental health challenges can often be complex and deeply rooted in past experiences. Many have faced trauma, neglect, and instability, making it crucial that they receive continuous therapeutic support. That is why our Wraparound therapeutic team plays such a vital role in our organisation—not only in supporting the young people, but also in working closely with our dedicated care teams to ensure that every aspect of the environment is set up to promote healing and growth.

What Does It Mean to Create a Therapeutic Environment?

A therapeutic environment is more than just a safe place—it is a setting intentionally designed to promote emotional well-being, security, and a sense of belonging. This means fostering trust, providing consistent care, and ensuring that children and young people feel heard, valued, and supported. It is about understanding each child’s unique needs and experiences and creating spaces where they can express themselves, build positive relationships, and develop the skills they need to build happy and fulfilling futures for themselves.

The Wraparound therapeutic team supports the creation of this environment by embedding therapeutic principles into everyday care. Our ‘Safehomes’ framework is central to our approach. Safehomes is a system that places importance on the life space of the home as a community where the daily experiences of all members are an opportunity for learning and development. We don’t just provide individual sessions for children and young people; we help our staff integrate a therapeutic approach into daily routines, interactions, and responses to the young people’s needs. Safehomes ensures that every interaction, from mealtimes, bedtimes, or even casual chats becomes an opportunity for healing and growth.

Supporting Our Team Members to Support Young People

The work of caring for children with complex emotional needs can be incredibly rewarding, but it can also be intense. Our Wraparound therapeutic team plays a crucial role in supporting our frontline team members, helping them to develop the skills, knowledge, and resilience needed to provide the best care possible.

One way we do this is through regular training and reflective practice sessions. Our psychological therapists work closely with staff to deepen their understanding of trauma-informed care, attachment theory, and strategies for supporting children who have experienced adversity. This helps staff feel confident and equipped to handle difficult situations with sensitivity and professionalism.

Additionally, our therapeutic team provides direct emotional support to staff. Working in residential care can be emotionally demanding, and we recognise that for our staff to care for young people effectively, they also need space to process their own emotions and experiences. Through debriefing sessions, one-to-one consultations, and group reflective practices, we ensure that our team members feel supported & heard.

Therapeutic Approaches in Action

Our therapeutic team employs a variety of approaches to ensure that our residential homes truly feel like places of healing. Some of the key elements include:

• Attachment-Based Care: Many of the children in our care have experienced disrupted attachments. We work with staff to build strong, trusting relationships that help young people feel secure and valued.
• Emotion Regulation: Staff are trained to help young people understand and manage their emotions in a healthy way, rather than feeling overwhelmed by them.
• Reflective Spaces: We focus on helping young people reflect on their experiences, repair relationships, and develop constructive ways to resolve conflicts.
• Sensory and Environmental Considerations: The physical environment plays a crucial role in mental health. We support staff in creating calm, welcoming spaces with sensory-friendly elements that help regulate emotions and promote well-being.

The Power of Everyday Moments

One of the most important things we emphasise is that therapy doesn’t just happen in scheduled sessions—it happens in everyday moments. A simple conversation while making a cup of tea, a reassuring presence after a bad dream, or a shared moment of laughter while playing a game—all of these small, seemingly insignificant moments contribute to a young person’s healing journey.

This is why, in St. Christopher’s, every week is mental health week. We are committed to ensuring that children and young people in our care receive the support, stability, and understanding they need—not just as a campaign or a passing conversation, but as an ongoing, unwavering commitment.

The Wraparound therapeutic team will continue working alongside our care teams to build environments that nurture resilience, encourage growth, and help each young person move toward a brighter future.

Because for us, every week is children’s mental health week!