Ethan was referred to SpotLight after school raised concerns about his emotional regulation and relationships with other children. Although domestic abuse between his parents had ended, Ethan continued to struggle with anger, frustration and maintaining friendships. Ethan is autistic and has ADHD and already received additional support within school.
Our first sessions focused on building trust through Ethan’s interests. He enthusiastically shared his knowledge of the First World War, enjoyed puppet play and explored a range of creative activities at his own pace. These shared experiences became the foundation of a strong therapeutic relationship.
As sessions progressed, art became Ethan’s way of expressing emotions that were often difficult to describe. One session involved creating a large splatter painting using reds, oranges and golds to represent anger, alongside a much smaller painting with the word love at its centre. The contrast prompted conversations about the different feelings he carried.
Sensory activities also played an important role. Making slime helped Ethan regulate his emotions and remain focused throughout sessions, while puppet play gave him opportunities to explore friendship, conflict and problem-solving in a safe and creative way.
By the end of SpotLight, Ethan’s confidence had grown noticeably. He proudly shared artwork that had been recognised by school and spoke positively about his ambitions for the future, including helping other neurodivergent children.
Through creativity, trust and consistent support, Ethan developed new ways of understanding and expressing his emotions, leaving SpotLight with greater confidence in himself and the relationships around him.