Spotlight Interview- Angela McMillan - Elemental Health and Augmenting Therapy CIC
We chat with Angela McMillan from Elemental Health and Augmenting Therapy CIC about supporting the mental health of young people and their parents and carers in Cardiff.
Can you tell us a bit about Elemental Health and Augmenting Therapy CIC and their vision?
Elemental Health was founded in 2015 in response to a request to deliver mental health support and training. Over the years, this service has evolved into training and 1-1 support services, including parent support, supervision and counselling.
Augmenting Therapy came later, growing out of funded research into how immersive technology could support young people's wellbeing. That research led to an app being built, and it became clear there was something genuinely powerful in bringing people together in a therapeutic setting. So I set up Augmenting Therapy CIC to do exactly that. This is where we run our therapeutic group programmes and our free parent and carer groups.
The two sit alongside each other:
If you're looking for 1-1 support (counselling for you or your child or parent coaching), that's Elemental Health.
If you're looking for group work for your young person, or free group support for yourself as a parent or carer, that's Augmenting Therapy.
In what ways does Augmenting Therapy CIC support young people?
We offer the following small group sessions for young people:
Minecraft therapeutic groups for young people. Using Minecraft as a therapeutic tool to build connection, confidence and emotional regulation in a world young people already know and trust.
Creative therapeutic groups for young people. Using art, storytelling, animation and creative tools to help reduce stress and anxiety. Themes include Being Me, Feeling Safe, Being Friends.
Skills-based groups. These include teaching game and app design skills. Certificates are given.
In what ways does Augmenting Therapy CIC support parents and carers?
We offer Parent/Carer Support groups in Cardiff. They are free fortnightly in-person sessions for parents and carers of anxious and neurodivergent young people. (No diagnosis is required).
Could you tell us how your service has made a positive difference to a young person before?
We have recently worked in partnership with Llamau, Cardiff Youth Service and Platfform.
Our sessions have helped to reduce anxiety, increase social connection and improve school attendance for young people who have wanted to return to education but haven't known how.
Where can we find out more about your work?
Elemental Health Website: www.ehe.org.uk
Augmenting Therapy website - www.augmentingtherapy.com
Augmenting Therapy website - hello@augmentingtherapy.com
Facebook: facebook.com/augmentingtherapy
Eventbrite link: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/ange-mcmillan-augmenting-therapy-115887979821
How it works:
Our support starts with a consultation to discuss the young person and the issues they face. We also like to focus on their strengths and what they enjoy. We then meet with each young person in a 1-1 setting with a safe adult to find out about them.
We will be running a summer school so young people and families can come and try mini taster sessions.
Our next cohorts start in June and then again in September.
These sessions can be funded through IDP / EOTAS / our funded spaces or self funded. We launch fully in September.
The parent group runs all year round, and people can dip in and out as they need. These sessions are a blend of sharing, listening and advice with access to a WhatsApp group that's been set up by one of the members - they are a wonderful and supportive community.