Children learn that there is a difference between the sort of thoughts that get in your way...
and the sort of thoughts that can help you!
To deliver comprehensive psychoeducation in highly accessible and developmentally appropriate ways.
To teach flexible and adaptive responses to difficulties, including self-regulation as well as support-seeking and recognising when extra help is needed.
To help children develop emotional literacy and regulation skills.
To help children make the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviour.
To help children identify thinking traps that maintain common day to day anxieties or low mood.
To introduce specific skills in recognising and coping with cognitive biases, particularly jumping to conclusions.
To enable a normalising approach by learning together in a group context - helping children build on their social skills with opportunities for positive social interactions with peers.
How it works?
To access the CUES Clinical Group, a referral from a CAMHS clinician is required.
- The programme consists of ten weekly, 1-hour sessions for children. These usually take place within school hours – information and appointment letters are provided to be shared with the school.
- The sessions are interactive and include videos, discussion, fun hands-on activities and skills practice – all designed to make abstract concepts concrete and memorable.
- The children have in-between session challenges and activities to complete with their families at home. They receive a CUES workbook as a reminder of key learning.
- The intervention also includes three 1-hour group sessions for parents/carers. This helps to share CUES language and techniques, with a particular focus on how to help children apply these in everyday situations and manage specific challenges.
Routine service evaluation suggests good uptake and positive feedback regarding accessibility and engagement.
Accessibility and Engagement
Feedback
Satisfaction with ease and way of accessing the programme.
Children understand the content.
Feeling accepted in the group and able to connect with others.
Find the activities, characters and videos appealing.
Find the content enjoyable and fun.
Potential Benefits
Feedback
Improved emotional regulation: learning new ways to calm down when feeling stressed.
Increased repertoire of coping strategies: using strategies for managing emotions such as anger and fear.
Normalising: importance of highlighting that everyone is different; understanding emotions; children feeling less alone.
Involvement and effect beyond the individual: sharing techniques with friends and family, children more able to express emotions and talk about their feelings.
Feedback from Parents/Carers
The CUES programme demonstrates a great way of teaching emotional literacy in a practical and easy accessible manner. I hope that more children are offered this so that they can build resilience and gain more knowledge on how to have good social, emotional and mental health.
I think it gives him the confidence to know he has strategies to deal with any issues.
I am really glad that she was able to come and be a part of such a wonderful group/service. She really benefitted from it and has taken lots away from it including friendships, which is something that doesn’t come easy for her. I too was able to form some relationships with people and we are both grateful for having had the opportunity
Really good, fun, simple approach that built to a cohesive whole from session to session.
It’s been a really positive experience for her – they have been expertly supported and that has been wonderful to see as a parent. I think it’s a perfect model for ASD children.
Learning alongside each other and from each other in a safe, non-judgemental space was wonderful.
Very well considered content, pitched at the right level. When I tried to implement the strategies it was easy as we were informed about everything in the parent group.
Feedback from Children
[CUES taught me] to not bottle up all my sadness.
I liked knowing the other kids and that my feelings are normal.
CUES helped me sleep better and helped me not get in tempers that much.
The group has helped my self-esteem. I can talk to anyone I want to now. I couldn’t talk to people before. My confidence has really got better.
It was fun and exciting whilst still being focused on things we could learn. The people understand me and we could get things done. It was informative.
