Are you concerned about the emotional wellbeing, mental health or behaviour of someone with severe or profound intellectual disabilities? Or do you want to learn more about this area of care and support?

We are offering an opportunity to share your concerns within a supportive group, facilitated by Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist Dr Elspeth Bradley and Learning Disability Nurse Dr Julie Calveley. The sessions will allow for reflection, sharing and learning with and from others.

These sessions will enable you to:

– Develop a deeper understanding of what is happening and a plan of what you can do to make things better.

– Develop a sensitive, compassionate multi-perspective appreciation (formulation) about what might be happening and use this to develop an understanding of what can improve the situation.

Suitable for clinicians, practitioners, therapists, education, health care, social care and family members.

The cost of attending all three 1.5 hour Zoom sessions is £50 for professionals and £10 for family members.

Dates and times

Thursdays 2-3.30, UK time

16th March 2023

30th March 2023

20th April 2023

Session facilitators:

Dr Elspeth Bradley has a PhD in neurobiology and behaviour and is a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, physician, teacher and researcher.  She has studied and worked in the UK and whilst keeping links with the UK and internationally, she currently works in Ontario, Canada. Elspeth has published her research and clinical work and has contributed chapters in key texts on clinical mental health issues and clinical practice pertaining to people with intellectual disabilities including: the need for comprehensive formulations to better understand the nature of the presenting concerns and drawing attention to necessary environments and emotional supports for optimal well-being and the prevention of emotional and behavioural distress, sometimes referred to as “behaviours that challenge”. In recent years her focus has increasingly turned to trauma in intellectual disabilities and how we can better support individuals with intellectual disabilities who do not use language to communicate, so as to prevent emotional and behavioural distress from occurring. See the links below for some of Elspeth’s published works and a video of her speaking.

https://oadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/41023-JoDD-22-2-v10f-101-120-Bradley-and-Korossy.pdf

https://vimeo.com/161779320?forcedownload=true

https://oadd.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/41015_JoDD_19-1_8-23_Bradley_and_Caldwell.pdf

Dr Julie Calveley has a PhD in intellectual disabilities, a psychology degree and is a registered learning disabilities nurse. She has worked in health, social and education for 30 years and is mum to two adults with diagnoses of autism. Julie founded NAC in 2020, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to the emotional wellbeing of children and adults with severe and profound intellectual disabilities. NAC promotes evidence-based, safe and non-invasive care and support. Julie believes that a holistic, compassionate and empathic approach is critical for understanding needs and for developing practical care plans that are effective in reducing distress, easing suffering and maximising wellbeing for all.

For more information contact [email protected]

£50/£10 for all three sessions