Calm The Guard Dog And Hear The Owl addresses how we recognise anxiety, what our stress responses are and how we can calm these unhelpful responses to combat the overwhelm and build resilience.

Anxiety and resilience are approached in a practical and creative way, with therapeutic support, using art and narrative.

This workshop is run over 2 days during the Autumn and Spring School Holidays; 2 hours on day one and 2 hours on day two. We ensure that this is a small group of only 6-8 participants and have 3-4 therapists, which allows for comprehensive therapeutic engagement with each child.

Workshop Overview

Day 1 - When Does The Guard Dog Bark?

Here we will explore anxiety triggers and stress responses in an engaging way, in order to gain a deeper understanding of our unique experience with anxiety. We’re introduced to the Guard Dog and the Owl, which represent areas in our brain, and we hear the first instalment of a relatable story about Kit, a school kid that is feeling very anxious. We engage in games, art making and group discussions, in which participation is always optional. We will ensure that each child is supported in the capacity they have to participate on the day.

9am - 11am (5-8 years), 1pm - 3pm (9-12 years)

Day 2 - How To Hear The Owl

The second day will uncover ways in which we can combat the unhelpful stress responses and build resilience. We explore regulation tools that are unique to ourselves to be used with support at home. We will play more games, get crafty with more art materials, hear the second instalment about Kit’s anxiety journey, and experience a short meditation. Again, each child is supported with how they feel they can participate on the day. Resources will be handed to all caregivers to take home.

To secure a spot, click the button below!