WHO IS AT
SPARKY NOODLE ?
Hello, again! I am Labanya Ghosh, a Certified Child Centered Play Therapy Practitioner and here’s a little bit more about me.
I spent the first decade of my working life as a copywriter and moved to working with and for children right after. Beginning as a writer for children and then as a volunteer math teacher at an NGO and then as a teacher’s assistant for students with ADHD and SLD at a school catering to students with various disabilities. And from there began my journey as a Teacher for persons with Dyslexia (this is for another day) and as a Child Centered Play Therapy Practitioner.
I find the way children communicate, the way they tirelessly try to show us their world absolutely fascinating.
I think if we could just sit back and observe a child and tune into their energy, we might be in for a magical ride. Less than 1% of children and adolescents suffering from mental disorders in India receive care. And many times, we may be so caught up in doing what’s best for them or what should be done, we forget that children are people too with strong ideas and opinions and an innate sense of what they need and want.
They may not have the words but they have sensations, memories, feelings that they need to explore and process for their well-being.
I welcome every child to my Play Therapy Room with all their mess and chaos and I promise to work it all out standing right by them.
What do I value most in my practice?
Ethics! I chose an extremely rigorous course from Play Therapy International (UK) that focuses on clinical hours and mandates supervision for as long as I practice. As my work is with children, I wanted to ensure that my training meets the highest standards so that I am able to hold space for every child that comes to me and effectively build trust for a secure relationship.
In addition, I do the risk assessment of my space, and I have data protection and safeguarding policies in place
How do we begin sessions?
We typically begin with a phone call for a quick preliminary chat. An in-person meeting with the parent/ guardian or teacher follows where case details are taken and relevant forms filled such as the Goodman’s Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire (SDQ) which gives a baseline score along five dimensions, namely, Prosocial, Hyperactivity, Emotional, Peer and Conduct.
The most important aspect is setting of the day and time of sessions as consistency in schedule is key for building a secure relationship.
A schedule is also decided for short meetings/ chats with the referrer after sessions to discuss progress or any other shifts that may arise as a result of therapy.
