Winter 2023 Newsletter

Speech and Language Therapy
with Ellen Ratigan, Speech Language Pathologist

Speech and Language Therapy targets fluency (the ability to express oneself easily and accurately), articulation (forming clear and direct sounds), and voice. Ellen’s primary goal with Tennyson kiddos is to improve their social communication skills (like interacting with new people, understanding what’s appropriate or inappropriate, or knowing how to express and read other people’s emotions).

This service is especially important for the kids we serve because trauma or persistent stress can impair a child’s speaking skills. Oftentimes, they haven’t grown up in a language-rich environment, or they may have learned destructive communication habits if they grew up in an abusive household. Ellen already has multiple success stories like the kid who was finally able to answer a question in class or the child who found the courage to ask her classmates if she could sit with them during lunch.

Recreational Therapy
with Jennifer Link, Recreational Therapist
Recreational Therapy uses games and activities to work towards specific goals. It’s also about finding the activities that bring someone joy or adapting activities they can participate. It’s especially important for Tennyson kids who may not be able to participate in activities they once loved because of a traumatic event. Even the simplest activities can be triggering for a child with trauma, but Jennifer knows how to navigate them in different ways to help the child feel safe and accomplished.

At the end of a session, she asks kids to reflect on the things they liked about the experience and the things they did well. “It’s important to have kids recognize that although the outcome of the game or activity might not have gone as planned, there are positive things to come out of each attempt. They remained with their peers, they didn’t give up, they stayed safe, and so on and so forth.”

Recently, Jennifer used basketball to improve a child’s breath control, which was limiting his speech. “With each dribble, we took a breath. For free throws, it was inhale, exhale, then shoot. It just shows the power of recreational therapy…using the things we love to achieve a difficult goal.”

Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAA)
at Mustard Seed Ranch and the Intricate Roots Community Farm

Exposure to animals can be a powerful tool for reducing stress and anxiety, building self-esteem, practicing social skills, and learning emotional awareness and regulation. Kids in our School & Day Treatment program now have access to two forms of AAA. They can receive weekly equine therapy with horses at Mustard Seed Ranch or interact with a variety of therapy animals at the Community Farm owned by Intricate Roots. Through our new partnership with Intricate Roots, therapy animals will also visit Tennyson’s campus throughout the year. Click here to see our first animal visitor, Butterscotch the Guinea Pig.

Horticulture Therapy
with the Denver Urban League

Horticulture therapy uses plants and gardening to improve mental and physical health. It’s especially useful for kids who benefit from routines and calming environments, including kids with autism. In the garden, they have an opportunity to explore with their senses without being overstimulated. For similar reasons, it helps kids who are high-energy or in a state of dysregulation. “We want to give teachers and clinicians one more tool in their toolkit,” says the Garden Manager, Nick Wininger. “We already have high-energy spaces like playgrounds. By adding a lower-energy space, we’re giving kids more ways to work through their challenges.” One of our kiddos has a special fondness for catching bugs, and he’s looking forward to release of ladybugs this Spring.