Music therapy
Music therapy helps children of all ages and abilities apply their musical imagination.

Children often find it difficult to describe the very turbulent emotions they may be feeling. Music can be used as a form of communication, reaching beyond verbal language and enabling expression and understanding of feelings. Music therapy can therefore soothe the anxiety caused by confusing and complex feelings.

Music therapy at Shooting Star involves active music-making by the child and the therapist. It draws on the emotional connection to music that exists in every child, encouraging creativity, expression, communication and interaction. It provides a safe and supportive space to reflect and focus on emotional wellbeing.

Music therapy is also offered to other family members, providing much-needed emotional support and understanding during challenging experiences.

The Music Therapy Room at Shooting Star House is in memory of Marsha McDonnell. Find out more.


Play therapy               
Shooting Star House has a Play Therapist who works with the children to help them to explore, express and understand their feelings. Play therapy is particularly appropriate for siblings who have been bereaved, children who are living with a disabled or ill sibling, or children who may be ill themselves.

It can be hard for children to talk to adults about difficult life experiences. Play therapy offers children a safe space to explore issues and try to make sense of their life experiences. Within the sessions, children use a variety of play materials such as puppets, clay, sand or craft to express their feelings in a natural way and emerge more resilient, so that they are more able to manage difficult feelings.

Play therapy is particularly appropriate for children aged 3 to 12 years and is helpful for children from different cultures.


Family support
As part of the Family Support and Therapies Team, Shooting Star has a part-time Social Worker who plays an integral role in supporting our families. This support includes:

• Emotional and practical support to children and families - advice around housing, benefits, funeral costs, holidays, assistance in the home, financial support from charities and links to outside agencies such as carers support.
• Linking with the Outreach Team to support families in the community and ensuring the families are in contact with the appropriate professionals outside of Shooting Star.
• Liaison with the local social services and other professionals, such as the child's school.
• Child protection and Child in Need Assessment
• Training for the Care Team

Counselling support
Our counselling service works closely alongside our in-house and outreach care teams to provide emotional and psychological support for our families. Our counselling team is experienced at working with a wide range of issues including those that may affect families caring for a child with a life-limiting illness. Pre and post bereavement support and counselling is an integral part of the service we offer to all family members including siblings and grand parents.

We have a dedicated bereavement service that offers follow up and support following a bereavement. This service is available for as long is required. As a service we are sensitive to the fact that the type and level of support required will be different for each family and also each individual family member. As a result we are committed to developing a service that provides support at many different levels.