At Helping Hands, we are firm advocates for what we affectionately call “Tear-Free Therapy”. Sometimes, with the best of intentions, Physiotherapy can have a negative effect on a child’s self-image, self-confidence and be experienced by children as disempowering or even punishing. This is because the way Physiotherapists are taught to work does not necessarily consider the lived experience of the child, and the techniques we are taught are often uncomfortable or even painful for the people we treat, and therefore are not be appropriate for children or certain vulnerable adults, which limits how much we can help hands-on. Parents can find home programmes involving stretching or the excessive use of splints, straps and equipment daunting due to the discomfort experienced by the child. Children can be very disheartened by exercise programs centred around repeatedly trying something they find difficult, when they know they are underperforming compared to their peers or siblings. Well intentioned, loving parents persisting with such programs given by therapists in an attempt to help their child in the long run can lead to increased stress for the parent and child and even strain this incredibly important relationship.
 

Our clinicians are highly skilled and experienced in hands-on techniques and exercise strategies which are painless, strengths-based rather than impairment-based and which focus on giving fast results, providing instant gratification for the child and reassurance for the parent. Both child and parent are coached on approaching therapy with an empowered, curious, and joyful mindset, and the tolerance of the child is taken into careful consideration when prescribing home programs. This approach has worked so well with children, we also apply it with adults and find superior results and increased motivation for home programs compared to more conventional therapy methods.
 

We run courses for parents, caregivers and adults/older children with complex needs to increase your confidence in using the principles of Tear-Free Therapy at home. Please email clara.helpinghands@gmail.com to enquire about upcoming courses or to request private group training. We also collaborate with international experts and leaders in our field to run courses for other healthcare professionals looking to develop their skills and keep up to date with the latest developments in the areas of Paediatrics and Disability.
 

Our clinical time is very limited, and although assessment is a necessary part of our work to determine the best course of action to meet your needs, we choose to focus our time on intervention as there is such limited access to intervention in other services. Therefore, we do not currently offer diagnostic services for ASD or other conditions, assessments of need or assessments purely for reporting purposes.