On 15th – 17th September 2017 I was invited by Dr Martin Williams ( such a massive honour ! ) to Fife in Scotland where I gave a talk and ran a workshop as part of the launch of an Emotionally Intelligent schools leadership programme . Dr Williams spoke so engagingly about the huge importance, impact and value of emotional intelligence and how “EQ” is as important, if not more so , than IQ : something that has also been so close to my own heart and experience and something I’ve long wished to see within schools and the workplace.
The head teacher of Lochgelly School, Carolann Penrose, had worked closely with Dr Williams for the outcomes aimed at for the weekend and I was just so thrilled to be part of it. It just lights me up to meet doctors, teachers and other professionals who all deeply care for the child, the ” wet cement ” that we are all shaping and to know that there are really forward thinking schools out there who understand that an emotionally intelligent school will be a more productive and inclusive school – which will ultimately produce better results . This message then filters into the workplace where employers now are increasingly looking for EQ as well as IQ….
By also encouraging self care and self nurture, we all do a far better job of providing the very best , professional, quality care for the children and young adults we are growing. With all the pressures teachers are now under, this couldn’t be more important because if teachers are able to nurture themselves, they’re then able to nurture those in their care. When we are aware of and growing our own EQ, we can then help the children grow their’s .
This launch weekend was just totally inspiring and motivational. It was so gorgeous to feel myself growing even more on a personal and professional level as I listened to Dr Williams’ extensive knowledge and experience – and also the heads,deputies, teachers and other staff who were all so passionate about what they do. I was so moved to be able to share this special time and to bring my own work to the table too, that I did actually cry when I left Edinburgh airport …! I felt part of something so valuable, important and trail blazing. I’m confident that this is just the beginning……
Out of all the ( many ! ) photographs I took throughout my trip, my very favourite is the one of the knitted bicycle cover because to me it summed up the weekend …. all of our colours, all of our gifts, all of our abilities – however different or special , all of our voices are so important for transporting us into a rich, full, inclusive and emotionally intelligent future .
I now have the heartwarming pleasure of training up teachers, LSA’s , TA’s and staff within schools all over the UK, whether they travel to my therapy centre or I travel to train. Most of those training with me now come on fully or part funded placements from their schools which is a huge testament to this work .
However schools and academies do not always have the budget or the time to spare staff for full trainings.
Yet with an increasing number of children and young adults being diagnosed as on the autism spectrum , along with ADHD ,dyslexia and learning differences, workshops or one day talks/trainings would be invaluable.
I have walked this path as the mother of an autistic child surviving mainstream , as well as a therapist and author , so I have a wealth of knowledge, experience and expertise to bring into the school environment. With a long and proven record of working within schools and specialist academies , this is a huge passion of mine ! A day spent sharing techniques and a whole ” toolbox” of methods to promote calmer, more relaxed , more focused and productive classroom environments , will pay dividends into the longterm as well as the short term.
So many children go through so much before they even get through the school gates in the morning and go through experiences that many adults would be signed off sick for. There are many who go through emotional trauma and difficult times, so for these children, along with those who have different abilities, some simple massage techniques can be what gets them through the school gates and actually helps keep them in school that day.
From my own experience and from what those I have trained in schools tell me , classrooms are certainly much calmer environments and more productive ones too after massages have taken place.
I have also been into schools to give assemblies and workshops also and this I really love because it involves all the kids. Its great for them to feel part of everything, feel their voices are being heard too and to play an active part in their own health and wellbeing. Once I ran an assembly in a packed gym and afterwards the queue was so long around the building with kids wanting to see me afterwards that I ended up staying for the entire lunch hour ! I was so happy !! I’m often told they wish I was their biology teacher as they are learning so much whilst having fun in an informal way. I have loved this work so much ,that it is something I would certainly like to offer more of for 2017.
Please email me if you feel your school or academy could benefit from this ,wherever you are located.
Talk and trainings in Belfast 27th-28th April 2017 9.30 am – 5pm both days. CMA approved and certified course. I’m so happy to be coming over to Ireland to spread this wonderful work and share with everyone!
It would be fantastic if you could bring along a copy of my book “Indian Head Massage for Special Needs ” available from my publisher Jessica Kingsley/Singing Dragon or direct from Amazon. I love everyone to scribble all over the pages like a gorgeous well used recipe book because I am always bursting with so much information as we work together.
£300 per person
Early booking essential.
Payments can be spread and there is an Early Bird Offer available if the first £100 is paid by 31st January:
I recently had the massive joy of being asked to speak at The Association of Indian Head Massage’s (AIHM) annual conference and CPD day on Saturday 17th September, organised by the wonderful Mary Atkinson. Mary spoke , along with the lovely Bridget , about her massage work within palliative care and hospices , a talk which made me well up several times at the hugeness of heart and courage involved for all concerned , Amy Taylor spoke eloquently and passionately about her massage work with pregnant ladies and I was invited to speak about my work with children and young adults with autism and other different abilities. I loved every minute and absolutely couldn’t stop talking … I wanted to share so much !! I wanted to give the incredible, courageous, gifted children I work with a voice and let people know just how able and talented they are , as well as raise awareness about using therapeutic touch to help them bloom.I was buzzing for days afterwards … and still am as I write this ! I absolutely love my job !!
The outcome for the day was to ensure that Indian Head Massage sessions met the individual needs of each and every client and above all listening to them and combining touch with that space to hear and feel how someone really is . After a working lunch where I actually had a queue of people wanting hugs as well as questions answered ( I loved it and actually wanted to take everyone home with me ! ) , Mary, Amy and I ran workshops where we shared some of our techniques with the attendees.
Mary has written her own blog on the events of the day; if you would like to find out more, please click here to read it.I also wrote my own posts on Twitter and on my Therapies for Special Needs and Indian Head Massage for Special Needs Facebook pages.
I will be attending the Therapies in Education International conference as a guest speaker. I will also be running workshops and demonstrations throughout the day.
The event will take place at Ysgol Pen Coch on the 21st October, beginning at 9:30am and finshing at 4pm BST. For more details, please click on the link above.
I will be attending this year’s Association of Indian Head Massage annual conference and CPD day and will be appearing as a guest speaker, talking about the use of therapies within education and special needs. I will also be running work shops and demonstrations throughout the afternoon. Copies of my book will be on sale.
The event takes place at the Columbia Hotel, 95-99 Lancaster Gate, London W2 3NS on the 17th Sepetember 2016, beginning at 9:30am and finishing at 4:30pm BST. My first talk will commence at 11:45am and it will be lovely to see as many of you as possible there. I look forward to meeting you all and sharing with you.
In response to overwhelming demand following the publication of my book, for those who cannot travel to me to train, I am very happy to travel to offer talks and one day workshops. Please email at info@therapiesforspecialneeds.co.uk for further details. I can come to schools or private venues wherever there are a number of you. This includes abroad, particularly in response to all the emails I have received from America and specifically in connection with autism.
I am also happy to travel to offer two day fully certified and CMA approved practical diploma courses in indian head massage for special needs based on all the techniques in my book. This is where groups or schools are involved . Again, please do email me at info@therapiesforspecialneeds.
Dates for courses held on Exmoor in my training and therapy chalet are listed on the website but early booking is essential as more school funded placements are now being booked well in advance . I look forward to meeting you all and sharing with you !
From February 2016 I began taking bookings on my indian head massage for special needs practical diploma courses ( based on my book ) for school and academy funded placements. With 48 hours these teachers and members of staff were taking their training into their respective schools – a dream come true for me as I long to introduce therapies into schools everywhere. With the huge short term and long term benefits that my therapy brings to students , this impacts very positively not just on themselves as people but on the whole classroom and learning environment .
I have also successfully trained parents and carers of children with autism, ADHD and other special needs and within the first day of the course they want to take the therapy into their children’s schools. So many people arrive on the courses with an expectation – but always leave with a journey . I absolutely love my job !!
At the November 2014 ’Thinking Outside The Box” annual conference for ADHD ASC & LD Belgium
Public speaking work is becoming a large part of what Giuliana does, being invited to talk not only at schools both here and abroad but to major organisations who work to promote awareness of “special needs” . This is an area Giuliana is growing increasingly passionate about and in November 2014 Giuliana was inviged as a guest speaker to the annual conference of ADHD, ASD & LD Belgium.
As well as raising awareness of special needs and giving these children their voices and dreams back, schools should be integrating “special needs” within the mainstream system and not segregating special needs. With so many young people in our society and our schools who have needs or differences now reaching epidemic levels, it is time schools and education planners integrated them more within the mainstream system instead of segregating them. It is no longer good enough to just label children: an understanding is needed and a lot more support so that they feel valued and nurtured. If a child feels safe, he or she will learn. By supporting them as a whole person – “Holistically”- Whole-istically they become happier, more alert, attendance increases and they are more productive and focused.
Giuliana will also be doing talks in Sweden, Ireland and Munich from late Spring 2015, as well as talks throughout the UK to schools and organisations.
