FOR PROFESSIONALS

Supporting connection in therapy, education, and care

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VERVE offers training and development opportunities for professionals who want to deepen their understanding of regulation, learning, interaction, communication, and play.

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DEVELOPING CLINICAL PRACTICES

For Speech and Language Therapists

VERVE provides Speech and Language Therapists with a framework to analyse learning, interaction, strengthen parent and professional partnerships, and refine clinical decision-making.

Peer support, mentoring and supervision sessions are offered individually or in small groups, online or in person.

Training and supervision explore:

  • Using video to support parent reflection, knowledge and confidence

  • Analysing moment-by-moment communication and emerging skills.

  • The theory behind Interpersonal neurobiology, regulation, co-regulation and the significance of silence and mutual face watching in the process of well being, learning and communication.

  • Applying the VERVE principles - safe space, safe face, hold steady in assessment, therapy and day to day interactions and experiences.

  • VERVEing in schools and Early years settings - The VERVEing in Schools programme to support educators in observing how interaction, regulation, and communication unfold individually and in the classroom.

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UNDERSTANDING INTERACTION

For Practitioners

VERVE offers courses and supervision for practitioners working with children and families, including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists and support workers.

Training and supervision explore:

  • The use of video to reflect on our own interaction skills and timing

  • Tuning in to the interaction cues and engagement signals of each child

  • The theory behind Interpersonal neurobiology, regulation, co-regulation and the significance of silence and mutual face watching

  • Building regulation for well-being, learning and communication

  • Applying the VERVE principles - safe face, safe space, hold steady

  • Supporting families and professional peers through VERVE practice

Training can be delivered through individual course attendance or small group/team training.

Peer support, mentoring and supervision sessions are offered individually or in small groups, online or in person.

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APPLYING VERVE

For Teachers and Schools

The VERVEing in Schools programme supports educators in observing how interaction, regulation, and communication unfold individually and in the classroom.
It supports teaching staff in identifying the key signals of each child’s readiness for learning, engagement and interaction one:one and with their peers

Training is offered within the school or online and explores:

  • The theory behind Interpersonal neurobiology, regulation, co-regulation and the significance of silence and mutual face watching in independent learning and communication.

  • Reflecting through video on the adults impact on children’s regulation, learning, and communication

  • The role of safe space ,safe face and holding steady in supporting independence and confidence in learning and communication

  • Integrating VERVE principles into the classroom and SEND support

Peer support, mentoring and supervision sessions are offered individually or in small groups, online or in person

Download Programme Information

Early Years

1

Supports practitioners to tune into each child’s early communication, regulation and interaction to build strong foundations for learning.


Primary School

2

Helps educators understand and respond to individual patterns of regulation, communication and engagement within the classroom.


Supports staff to foster independence, wellbeing and meaningful engagement through a deeper understanding of regulation and interaction.

3

Secondary School


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Course Information

Professionals are invited to email for agendas, costs, and to discuss tailoring or editing courses to suit their service or team.

Trust-based sessions can also be arranged by contacting Keena directly.

testimonials

  • What professionals are saying...

    “Your enthusiasm and knowledge of your subject inspired us all. We found the mixture of brain-storming, information discussion and video just right.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “Your course certainly gave us a boost in skills & has informed a lot of our service developments.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “I felt empowered to hear someone else listing my strengths, it made me realise the positives that I had missed and gave me a much needed confidence boost.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “I am now even more able to adapt my teaching style in order to allow more from the children.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “It has helped me to become more reflective and I am able to support my colleagues without feeling judgemental.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “The video allows us to see our own strengths and weaknesses and the group sessions allow us to see other peoples’ strengths so that we are able to exchange support and advice.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “It has supported us in our professional development in terms of individual and whole foundation stage targets. Now we have begun focusing on our verbal interactions/questioning techniques.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “Huge changes have been made, especially for children with Special Needs, which has had a positive knock on effect on the rest of the class.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “I have seen a huge improvement in my class as a whole as well as in individual children.  The class is now staying focused for longer during group time.  They are responding far more positively to both myself and my TA and we feel like a tighter unit.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “Video self reflection  is an excellent Professional development tool that came along at the perfect time. I feel a lot more confident and this has created a positive spiral within my classroom.”

  • What professionals are saying...

    “The supported evaluation session was very useful – it was informal, relaxed, interactive and very informative.”

resources

Explore Professional Resources

Articles and materials for ongoing learning and reflection.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Children learn moment by moment through their closest relationships. From birth, they signal their needs and intentions through their bodies, sounds and movements. The way their key adults respond — second by second — shapes their communication, regulation and learning.

    Using video allows us to observe your child interacting naturally with you, doing something they enjoy. We can pause and “freeze frame” moments to identify your child’s emerging skills and notice what you naturally did in response. This helps us fine-tune interactions in a way that fits your child’s unique developmental profile.

    Each new video, taken at the start of a session, shows your child’s progress and ensures we continue adapting to their evolving abilities. Working in this way has a far greater impact than a therapist working alone with a child for a limited time each week.

    The video itself lasts only a few minutes. The rest of the session is spent reflecting together, discussing your child’s development, and thinking about how to support them between sessions.

  • No — because you are already doing what demonstration videos would show.

    VERVE is not about teaching you a technique. It is about recognising and strengthening the skills you already have as your child’s key attachment figure.

    Every child is different. Watching your own child in action gives us insight into their individual patterns of development. Together, we analyse what is happening in those small moments and explore how subtle changes in timing, energy and response can support them further.

    The freeze-frame process allows us to notice things that are often too fast to see in everyday life. It helps you leave each session feeling confident in what you are doing and why.

  • VERVE supports children of all ages because the process focuses on how each individual child develops communication within their relationships.

    In every session, we tune into your child’s regulation, play, thinking, communicative intent, language development, speech sounds and fluency. By analysing real interactions, we can support children with a wide range of developmental profiles and experiences.

    The philosophy brings together the therapist’s professional expertise and the parent’s deep understanding of their child. Together, this creates meaningful and lasting change.

  • No — quite the opposite.

    VERVE does not pressure children to look at adults. We never ask children to “look at me.” Instead, we respect that interaction is a choice.

    The focus is on adults learning to read a child’s signals — noticing when to speak, when to pause, and when to stop. Children are given time to think and organise themselves without pressure.

    Face watching and interaction develop naturally when children feel safe, unpressured and in control of their own communication.

Ready to begin?

Take the first step toward deeper connection and communication.