Emma Ramsden

Emma Ramsden is a State Registered Dramatherapist, Supervisor and Behaviour Consultant. She has a background of working in education, forensic psychiatry, homelessness and substance misuse, mainly in London. She is also a visiting tutor at Goldsmiths' College, University of London. Emma specialises in working with both children and adults, exploring communication, behaviour and anger management issues. She has also spent some time working with homeless children in Romania.

Working with closed groups of people and using a combination of drama techniques and group discussion, she believes that by seeing problems acted out as if they were real, we can access the emotions behind our actions and unravel some of our experiences and associations. The overall aim of her work is to make positive changes in the way that we view and relate to ourselves and other people. In doing this work Emma believes that our abilities to inter-relate with others, to listen and develop skills of empathy and assertiveness are enhanced. She maintains that by understanding some of the origins of their anger, people are better able to control it.

Some ideas about behaviour:
Traffic lights at home:
Imagine your house into colour areas, where RED represents areas that lack space, lighting and fresh air. Avoid having discussions in these areas as arguments are more likely to develop.

Conversations, particularly those that are problematic, should take place in GREEN areas, where each person has space to move around and talk freely.

Hours of viewing:
Research suggests that our brain stays active and even 'overworks' when TVs or computers are on. As a result it is recommended that we switch them off for a while before we try to sleep.

Try to provide an hour before bed time for yourself and your child(ren) when there is no television or computer switched on and everyone can relax and unwind, ready for bed.