At STARS Care Group, we are proud to provide more than just a place to live – we offer a nurturing, supportive, and emotionally aware environment rooted in therapeutic care. But what is Therapeutic Care?
The Difference Between Therapeutic Care and Other Therapy
When people think ‘what is therapeutic care?, it is often misunderstood. Therapeutic Care is not the same as formal therapy, such as CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) or ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy), which are delivered by qualified clinicians. Instead, therapeutic care refers to the way care is delivered—everyday interactions that are thoughtful, trauma-informed, and tailored to the individual needs of each young person.
This approach answers a huge part of the question; “what is therapeutic care?’. It recognises that many children in residential care have experienced difficult or unsafe early life experiences. Rather than focusing solely on behaviour, therapeutic care helps carers understand the reasons behind it—creating a calmer, more compassionate environment where young people feel safe and supported.
What is Therapeutic Care and How Do You Create a Therapeutic Environment?
At STARS, we use therapeutic principles in every aspect of our homes. This includes:
- Creating calm, nurturing spaces where children feel safe and comfortable
- Using the STARS approach to build trust and connection
- Being curious, not critical about behaviour, and offering consistent, respectful communication
- Providing emotional containment through tone of voice, active listening, and a sense of routine
Our teams are trained to understand how trauma can shape a child’s worldview and behaviour. We help children make sense of their experiences and begin to rebuild trust in adults, relationships, and themselves.
What is Therapeutic Care and Why Therapeutic Care Matters?
Working in a therapeutic way has been shown to lead to better outcomes for children and young people. It supports emotional resilience, builds stronger relationships, and creates a sense of belonging and stability. It also helps carers feel more confident and supported in their roles—especially in such a demanding field.
While formal therapy remains an important part of some children’s care plans, therapeutic care acts as a wraparound model that provides emotional support every single day.
Our Commitment at STARS
We work closely with expert partners, including psychologists and training providers, to ensure our staff receive the ongoing support and development they need to deliver excellent therapeutic care.
Through this model, we aim to give every young person the best possible chance to heal, grow, and achieve their full potential.
Contact Us
We hope this goes some way to answer the question ‘what is therapeutic care?’ and if you’d like more information to find out more about how we provide therapeutic care in our homes, please get in touch.