Who is the intervention for?
TALA is mostly for students in Years 9 to 11 who are struggling to manage their emotions. Sessions can be offered to students in Year 7 and Year 8, but ELSA is usually more appropriate for this age group.

What does the intervention involve?
1. Purpose:
TALA is designed to aid individuals in managing their emotions, coping with stress, and seeking support through active listening.
Active listening is a critical therapeutic skill where the listener fully focuses on, understands, and responds to the speaker's message in a reflective and empathetic way.
TALA aims to provide a supportive, non-judgmental space for individuals to express themselves.

2. How It Works:
The TALA practices reflective listening, paraphrasing the speaker’s words, validating their feelings, and asking open-ended questions to help the user explore their own emotions and thoughts.
The approach is a therapeutic tool whereby the TALA ensures that the student feels comfortable sharing personal thoughts and feelings, in a private and confidential space.
The TALA aims to help support students who are experiencing anxiety, overwhelming feelings, anger and a range of other (low level) issues that may be barriers for them.
TALA can help encourage students to engage in self-reflection, helping them better understand their emotions and triggers through guided conversations.
While TALA can be a helpful tool, it does not replace a licensed therapist. A TALA’s role is to listen and support, but not to diagnose or treat mental health disorders.
Some emotional situations, such as those involving trauma or deep psychological issues, may require professional intervention beyond the capacity of a TALA and in these cases, a referral on would be necessary.

3. Referral:
A student is usually referred by staff in school but students (and occasionally parents) can make a request for referral.
Consent is required either from parents or student (dependent on competency).
Confidentiality is of utmost importance and this is made clear.
Record keeping is kept to a minimum and no records are kept in the students' school file. Nothing is stored online, only a record of meeting on epraise.
However, safeguarding related concerns are stored electronically on CPOMs.

When does the intervention take place?
Sessions take place across 6-8 weeks during timetabled lessons. Each session lasts for 30-40 minutes.

If you would like to refer your child for this intervention, please contact us at senco@mountbatten.school