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About Achieve Change and Engagement (a.c.e.)

a.c.e. is a trauma aware charity based in North Lancashire, currently working across Lancaster District.

We work with children and young people aged 10 to 25 whose mental health has been negatively affected by experiencing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), to support them to improve their mental health and build emotional resilience, putting their voices at the heart of all we do.

Our team currently delivers one to one person centred, solution focused, goal-based work, counselling, trauma therapy and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy using a variety of methods to meet low to medium mental health needs of children and young people. We work collaboratively with families and other organisations and services to support the progression and recovery of our client.

We take referrals from professionals, parents, carers and young people themselves. We are able to offer some support to the families of children and young people with whom we are working.

 

Our Vision

All children, young people and adults live in emotionally healthy communities where they are heard and valued and able to get help when needed.

Our Mission

a.c.e. works with children, young people and their families to support them to build emotional resilience, putting their voices at the heart of our work.

We Are:

  • Non-judgemental
  • Supportive
  • Accessible
  • Qualified and experienced
  • Committed to putting children, young people and families at the heart of our work
  • Fully safeguarding compliant

a.c.e. currently offers the following:

Early Intervention/Emotional Wellbeing

Emotional Health Practitioners

Emotional Health Practitioners (EHP) support 10-25 year olds who have experienced a lower number of or less impactful ACE’s such as parental separation, short-term bullying, and relationship challenges. These challenges can, for example, result in low confidence and mood, anxiety, panic attacks, and school avoidance.

Emotional Health Practitioners

Our EHP’s can help build the children or young person’s confidence, self-worth and resilience through talking and engaging in creative solution-focused activities and supporting the development of coping strategies .

Trainee Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CYWP)

Our Trainee Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioners assess and support children and young people between the ages of 10 and 18 years of age with low level mental health problems.

Trainee Children and Young People’s Wellbeing Practitioner (CYWP)

They specialise in mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety, depression and behavioural difficulties. They offer a range of low intensity interventions that are based on cognitive behavioural therapy and guided self-help. They aim to help CYP and their parent/carers in self-management of recovery.

Senior Emotional Health Practitioners

Offer a range of methods to support the young person to improve their mental health and better manage their symptoms. They work with low to medium levels of anxiety and depression, self-harming behaviours, sleep disturbances, poor self-image and relationships

Counselling

Counselling offers a non-judgemental holding space for 18-25 year olds, where challenges and issues can be explored. This is a ‘non-directive’ therapy meaning the client has full autonomy in what they talk about. Counselling can help people release and soothe their distress whether this be related to the past, present or the future. Note: We have both qualified and student counsellors at ACE.

Interventions at a Higher Level

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)BT therapists support children and young people aged 12-25 years. This talking therapy focuses on the connection of thoughts, feelings and behaviours resulting in unhelpful thinking styles, or fear-based avoidance.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

CBT can help with anxiety, depression, OCD, panic disorders and insomnia along with a variety of other mental health disorders and challenges. CBT is an ‘active’ therapy meaning there will often be additional work to do outside of the sessions. Note: Our student CBT therapists can only work with clients over 18s.

Trauma-Focused Counselling

The 3-phased trauma model of safety and stabilisation (working on coping strategies), processing the trauma memory (telling the story in a safe way), and consolidation and integration (bringing it all together to live a healthier, happier life) supports 10-18 year olds to work through traumatic experiences in a safe, collaborative space.

Trauma-Focused Counselling

Types of ACE’s which could relate to trauma work may include witnessing or experiencing abuse and/or neglect, being involved in an accident, familial incarceration, or substance/alcohol abuse.