Towering inferno in England ( Archived) (258)

Never reply in regards for what you do not know.

The number of dead, or missing presumed dead has risen to 79.

Five people have been formally identified, five people reported missing have been found alive and well.

The death toll is expected to rise, but not as dramatically as it has over the last few days.

It may not be possible to identify all the bodies. After a description of three children disappearing in an explosion after being seen banging on a window, that may mean some families may not get to bury their children.

The Metropolitan police commander Stuart Cundy has been to the top floor of the building and has said that it's hard to describe the scenes of devastation. He is reported to be struggling to maintain his composure during press announcements.

As I understand it, art therapy can be as simple, or complex as any talking, or other emotional therapy.

It's particularly suitable for people who struggle to articulate verbally, so that might include children, or those unable to verbalise their trauma for any number of reasons. Some people's cognitive processing is simply more visual, or tactile than others.

Art therapy can take many forms, using many different materials. Having attended a seminar about art therapy which included snippets of case studies, it's quite incredible how people can make breakthroughs and progress with their personal development with the aid of a lump of clay.

A lot of talking therapies will use concrete tools, for example a collection of stones, shells, or buttons, for use in a symbolic representation of a dynamic. It can externalism a trauma or difficulty allowing a client to view their history maybe more objectively for a moment in time. It can be surprisingly powerful.

Of course, individuals have different needs, or approaches which should be client lead. Therapists who, or centres which can provide a number of tools for clients to use can provide a more client lead approach.

The group of people who have volunteered their skills for those affected by the fire have INVITED people to use those facilities if they wish. No one will be forced to use a voluntary service and I imagine given the scale of those affected, they're going to be hard pushed to meet the demand. There's only so much a therapist can do in a day for a number of reasons.

Those affected may be survivors, but they may also include family members, friends, evacuees from neighbouring buildings, witnesses, other tower block residents who may be experiencing a high level of anxiety for their own family's safety, volunteers and other people working in support roles.

If the service can provide some support for the support workers, or people searching for loved ones alone, so they can carry on with their roles, then it's a very valuable resource. I doubt very much they're expecting to 'cure' survivors - that's not how it works.

The Therapists in turn will be supported emotionally, practically and ethically by supervision. The chances are they will be paying for this themselves, unless they are affiliated to some kind of charity who can afford to pay the high costs of supervision, or supervisor's also volunteer their time.

I would like to apologize for my comment towards you.
I am sorry.

Sophie