Giving a little zest to learning: Working with children with severe complex physical and learning needs

Teresa Barron RDHA QTLS MCAHyp MCHP CNHC reg is an experienced practitioner and educator with a special interest in integration of complementary therapies in clinical and educational settings. With a nursing (RGN) background she began her training in Reflexology in 1990 and in Holistic and Clinical Aromatherapy in 1994. She is also an advanced Emmett practitioner, ScarWork practitioner, clinical hypnotherapist, flower essences consultant and Reiki Master Practitioner.
Teresa was the Educational Lead for a leading first aid training company and designed their instructor and teacher training courses, as well as being a published author. She also taught a special studies module in complementary therapies for medical students at the University of Leeds.
Working with other health professionals in an integrated way is very important to her and she is inspired by using essential oils in the variety of ways they benefit us and how they enhance other disciplines.
In 2019 Teresa was invited to provide aromatherapy and massage in a special school in Bradford for children with severe complex physical and learning needs. Massage and Aromatherapy was an obvious starting point for initiating communication and overcoming some of the anxieties and behaviours the children experience. During 2020’s lockdown, Teresa was invited back as a key worker as part of the school Covid recovery plan, to help children settle back into school. It became clear that involving the senses of smell and touch to initiate relaxation and help the children feel happy and safe was a invaluable strategy to facilitate and enhance communication and learning. Given that the remit was to enable learning, rather than therapy, Teresa terms what she does as ‘Aroma-Intervention’ (AI). The success of Aroma-Intervention has resulted in Teresa being invited to work in 4 other schools and hospital education services in West Yorkshire.

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