L&M CAMHS

20/10/2026

This week's Decider skills group -

💫 Listen and Crystal clear 💫

👂 Listen - this skill teaches us how to be a good listener as well as, knowing when someone is truly listening to you.
🙂 give your full attention (put down the phone)
👀 Make eye contact (if it feels comfortable to do so)
🗣 Let them finish their thoughts and avoid interrupting.
💭 show you understand (nod, smile and respond)

💎 Crystal CLEAR - this skill is for communicationg our needs and making it clear.
⚪ Clear- keep it simple and concise (don't use hints, we aren't mind readers)
🤔 Logical - make it make sense (avoid jargon and complicated stories)
✋ Assertive - be confident and respectful. Use alternatives if needed (write it down, send via email or text)
😑 Expression free - stay neutral and calm. Try not to involve emotions or expressions.
🔁 Repeat if necessary. Check they understand.

Both these skills help to communicate with each other, feel listened to and heard, as well as opening up conversation 💬

13/10/2026

This week in Decider skills group -

💙 DECIDER SKILLS: SELF CARE & VALUES 💙

Looking after ourselves isn’t just about the big things — it’s about the small steps we take every day! 🌟

Our SELF skill reminds us to look after our wellbeing:

😴 S – Sleep: Give your mind and body the rest they need.

🍎 E – Eating and drinking: Fuel your body with food and water to help you feel your best.

💭 L – Look at illness, stress and more: Notice how you’re feeling and recognise when you might need some extra support.

🎉 F – Find fun in everyday: Make time for the things you enjoy, even the little

Remember, self-care looks different for everyone. Small, everyday actions can make a big difference to how we feel. Be kind to yourself — you deserve care and kindness, too! 💕

🧭 VALUES – Your moral compass: Think about what matters most to you. Your values can help guide your choices and keep you connected to what’s important in your life. 💚

These values will grow and change throughout your life, and that's OK. Not everyones values are the same which makes us all unique 🤩

At Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust, we value Kindness, Respect, Always Learning and Being a Team.

05/10/2026

📣 date for the diary 📆

Does your child/young person struggle with anxiety? 😟
Want to know more on the signs of anxiety, what it can look like and how to support your child/young person? 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Book on to the C.H.A.T.S anxiety workshop - Thursday 15th October @ more music to learn more 🤩

05/10/2026

This week in Decider skills group we will be learning-
🌟 Fact or Opinion & Respect 🌟

Sometimes our thoughts can feel like facts — but is what we’re thinking something that can be proven, or is it our personal opinion? 🤔

💭 Fact or Opinion – practise noticing the difference between what is true and what we think or feel.

🤝 Respect – remember that everyone can have different thoughts, feelings and opinions. We can show respect by listening, being kind, accepting differences and treating others fairly.

Small choices can make a big difference! 💙
✨ Think • Choose • Feel Better ✨

28/09/2026

In Decider group this week we will be learning -

💭 NAME THE EMOTION & OPPOSITE ACTION 💙

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by your emotions and struggled to know what to do next?

Our Decider Skills can help! 🌈

💛 Name the Emotion: Take a moment to recognise and name how you're feeling. Whether you're angry, sad, worried or anxious, identifying your emotions can help you feel more in control.

💚 Opposite Action: Sometimes our emotions encourage us to act in ways that aren't helpful. Opposite Action encourages us to try something different, such as reaching out to others when we feel lonely or facing our fears when we're anxious.

✨ Remember, you don't have to act on every emotion. Taking a moment to pause and choose a helpful response can make a big difference.

🌟 Practise these skills, be kind to yourself and remember that small steps can lead to big changes!

25/09/2026

Want to tool yourself up with some valuable advice, learning how to manage an array of situations, challenges or behaviours? 🤔
Want to do this in your own time ⏲️

Look at Coram Family Lives for their online library of courses and webinars to take part in when you can and at your own pace 👩‍💻🧑‍💻

Parenting doesn’t come with a handbook, but our library of FREE online parenting courses offer practical tools and strategies to help you feel calmer and more confident https://www.coramfamilylives.org.uk/how-we-can-help/online-parenting-courses/

25/09/2026

🙋‍♀️ shout out for the parents 🙋
The SEND Den are now offering a safe open space for a bit of you time 🥰
Take a look at their page for further opportunities and events 🤩

💗 A little bit of YOU time… because parents deserve it too! 💗

At The SEND Den, we’re always thinking about how we can support the whole family — not just the children. 🥰

We’re exploring the idea of creating a relaxed parent & carer space, where you could have a little time to yourself while your child is enjoying our sessions and being supported by our experienced team. 💕

☕ Have a cuppa
📖 Read a book
💻 Catch up on some work
🌸 Do something you enjoy
🧘‍♀️ Simply sit, breathe and take a break

Meanwhile, your children can enjoy everything The SEND Den has to offer — from sensory play and activities to exploring, making friends and simply being themselves. 🌈💙

We know that finding time for yourself as a parent or carer can be SO difficult, especially when you’re constantly putting everyone else first.

So we want to know… would this be something you’d actually use? 👀

💬 Comment below and tell us what you’d love to have in a parent/carer space at The SEND Den!

Your feedback will help us understand whether there’s a real need for this and how we could make it work. 💕

Happy children. Happier parents. Brighter days. 🌈
The SEND Den — supporting the whole family. 💙

21/09/2026

Some of our young people are taught Decider skills either on a 1-1 basis or in the weekly group we run. So what are Decider skills and how can they help 🤔

🌟 DECIDER SKILLS – Skills to support emotional regulation and tactics to use when our emotions become overwhelming 🌟

Sometimes our emotions can feel like they’re getting bigger and bigger. The Decider Skills can help us pause, manage difficult feelings and choose what to do next. 💙

🫧 FEELING THE FIZZ
Notice when your emotions are starting to “fizz up”. Recognise what you’re feeling and think about what you need.

🛑 STOPP SKILL
S – Stop and step back
T – Take a breath
O – Observe what’s going on in your mind, body and surroundings
P – Pull back and put things into perspective
P – Proceed and practise what works

🚶 IT WILL PASS
Remember that difficult feelings are temporary. Like travelling through a tunnel, you may not be able to see the way out straight away – but keep going. 🌈

🌿 RIGHT NOW – 5, 4, 3, 2, 1
Bring yourself back to the present moment by noticing:
👀 5 things you can see
✋ 4 things you can touch
👂 3 things you can hear
👃 2 things you can smell
💨 1 big breath

💙 You don’t have to make the feeling disappear. These skills can help you pause, notice what’s happening and choose what to do next.

Lancaster and Morecambe CYPMHS
Kindness • Respect • Always learning • Being a team

16/09/2026

📣 date for the diaries 📆

With the return to school in full swing there can be an array of emotions and presentation of behaviours.

Book on to the PDA webinar for information, advice and useful strategies to help support at home.

🧑‍💻🙋‍♀️📒✏🙋👩‍💻

✨Join Anne-Marie Harrison, Education Director from Ideas Afresh Education, who will explore:

🌈 What Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) is and what makes the demand avoidant profile unique
🌈 How to recognise the signs of PDA and understand how it may present alongside other diagnoses or as a distinct profile
🌈Practical strategies to reduce anxiety, d build positive relationships and support your child

Sign up today: https://eu1.hubs.ly/H0xKj5j0

10/09/2026

There are so many options for support. Finding the right one for you can make all the difference. Everyone's journey is different, which is why it's okay to explore what works best for you. A conversation, a helping hand, or professional guidance could be the start of positive change. Remember: asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness. 🌟