Rainbow Forest Centre London provides professional guidance in Japanese to children and adolescents from infancy through the teenage years. We support a wide range of concerns, including:
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Delayed language development
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School non-attendance or refusal
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Tantrums and emotional outbursts
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Restlessness or difficulty focusing
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Anxiety
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Low mood
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Difficulties in peer or family relationships
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Support with continuing mental health care and counselling after relocation from Japan
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Informal psychoeducational assessments in Japanese related to autism spectrum conditions, attention and learning difficulties
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Informal psychoeducational assessments in Japanese to help families understand exam access needs in the UK
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Guidance on the special educational needs (SEN) system in the UK and advice on selecting suitable educational settings
Our team, experienced in clinical practice in Japan, offers a range of therapies tailored to the individual needs of each child. These may include behavioural approaches, emotional support, and parent–child communication strategies.
No matter the method, we focus on building trust and helping each child and family feel comfortable and supported. We also collaborate with schools and local services in the UK and provide parenting programmes to empower and guide caregivers.
Developmental Therapy (Japanese)
We provide behavioural therapy sessions in Japanese to support the development and well-being of children with special needs. Our therapy focuses on social, language, emotional, and physical development.
Sessions are primarily delivered one-to-one. Upon request, small-group sessions (for up to two children) are also available.
Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)
Our early intervention programme offers therapy based on Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) for children from approximately 18 months to preschool age.
ABA is one of the most evidence-based approaches for supporting young children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), especially those on the autism spectrum. The sessions are play-based and tailored to promote development in:
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Language and communication
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Social interaction
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Cognitive and emotional skills
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Fine and gross motor skills
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Joint attention and play
We also offer parental support and opportunities to observe sessions, enabling families to practise strategies at home.
Where appropriate, we can also liaise with nurseries and schools to ensure consistency of support across settings.
Social skills training
This programme focuses on developing communication and interpersonal skills—key areas of support for this age group. Social skills training helps children better understand themselves and others, cope with challenges in school and social life, and build confidence in relationships.
Rather than trying to change a child's unique traits, we work together to reduce the difficulties they and those around them may experience. We aim to find strategies that make life more manageable and fulfilling.
For example, sessions may explore:
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How to express thoughts and feelings while recognising others' emotions
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How to understand facial expressions and unspoken social cues
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How to deepen self-awareness and develop personal coping strategies in daily life
療育やSSTについての講演会録画をご視聴頂けます。
療育に大切なポイントがたくさんつまっておりますので、ぜひご覧ください。
①2024年1月8日開催「療育の必要性」(YouTube無料公開)
②2020年2月24日開催「子どものコミュニケーション」
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Counselling
At Rainbow Forest Centre, we offer evidence-based therapies in Japanese to support children's emotional and psychological well-being. We tailor our approach to each child, combining therapeutic methods that best suit their individual needs and goals.
Please note: At this time, all therapies and counselling sessions are conducted in Japanese only.
Below are some of the key approaches we frequently use in our sessions:
CBT
CBT is one of the most effective and widely used therapies for treating anxiety and depression in children and adolescents. Through CBT, children learn to understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Together, we explore practical strategies to cope with difficulties and improve emotional regulation.
CBT is particularly valuable because it equips children with tools to manage future emotional challenges, even after the therapy ends. It promotes long-term self-management without relying on medication.
EMDR
EMDR is a structured therapy commonly used to support children who have experienced trauma. It is considered one of the most effective trauma-focused therapies after CBT. The technique uses eye movements or gentle tapping to help the brain process distressing memories in a way that reduces their emotional impact. It is often well tolerated by children, even those who are sensitive to traditional talk therapy.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
ACT is a modern behavioural therapy developed from CBT. It helps children and adolescents learn to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgement, and to move forward in alignment with their personal values.
This therapy is especially useful for young people who are unsure about their goals or struggling with motivation. In ACT, we work together to support meaningful action and encourage positive life choices.
SEND Consultation
We provide tailored learning support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including those with dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dyspraxia.
In some cases, we begin with emotional support to help the child feel safe and motivated before starting formal learning interventions.
We may also carry out cognitive assessments in Japanese to better understand your child’s learning profile and identify effective strategies. (See the Assessment section for more details.)
Literacy Support
in Japanese and English
Research shows that repetitive 'drill' exercises are often ineffective for children with SEND who face difficulties in reading, writing, and Kanji recognition. For native Japanese-speaking children with SEND, learning English literacy poses even greater challenges.
We provide support using SEND-appropriate materials in Japanese, and incorporate ICT tools where helpful. Our goal is to build literacy skills in both Japanese and English in ways that are accessible, meaningful, and confidence-building.
Maths Support
Children with SEND may experience a range of difficulties in maths, such as:
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Relying on fingers to calculate
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Struggling with word problems
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Difficulty performing written calculations
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Trouble recognising shapes or understanding spatial concepts
We offer individualised maths support based on your child's cognitive profile and preferred learning style. Our approach aims to make learning more effective, engaging, and tailored to how each child's brain processes information.
学習支援のポイントについての講演会録画をご視聴頂けます。
脳の特性に合わせた学習支援の大切なポイントがたくさんつまっておりますので、ぜひご覧ください。
①2021年3月17日開催「認知特性と学習支援」
②2024年1月8日公開「バイリンガルと発達特性~なぜ英語がのびないのか~」(YouTube無料公開)
さらに詳しく知りたい方は、教職員講座をご覧ください。
Assessment (Japanese)
We offer informal assessments in Japanese to support the understanding of children with possible neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Developmental Language Disorder (DLD), as well as other learning and emotional needs.
These assessments are designed to support families, caregivers, and school staff in better understanding a child's strengths, challenges, and special educational needs.
Please note:
These are not statutory assessments and are not intended to provide formal diagnoses under the UK system. All assessments are conducted by professionals with Japanese qualifications, following Japanese ethical and clinical standards.
We understand that non-native English-speaking children are sometimes misunderstood in English-language assessments. Our Japanese-language assessments can offer culturally and linguistically appropriate insights, and may be submitted as supporting documents when applying for an EHCP or additional learning support in the UK.
Initial interview
(50 minutes)
Initial session will be an in-person/online session including gathering information about your child.
Assessment
There are three types of assessment: questionnaire format, interview format, and in-person assessment.
If you use the questionnaire format, please fill it out at home.
In the case of in-person, it takes about 1 to 2 hours for each type of examination, and about 1 to 3 hours for the interview format.
(Assessment Scoring)
After the assessment is completed, the center will score results and create a report.
It takes about 2 weeks for this work.
If you would like an English assessment report, it will take about an additional week.
Feedback
(50 minutes)
We can explain the assessment results online or in-person.
Parenting Program
Parenting programmes have been shown to be highly effective—often even more so than individual therapy—for addressing children’s irritability, defiance, and behavioural challenges, especially in early childhood and primary school years.
While such programmes are commonly delivered in group settings, we offer individualised parenting sessions tailored to each family's needs. These sessions can be provided alongside the child’s therapy or counselling, offering a more comprehensive and consistent approach to support both the child and their caregivers.
Parenting program
We have compiled a set of six structured parenting sessions specifically designed to help caregivers manage children’s frustration and oppositional behaviour.
In addition to traditional evidence-based parenting strategies, the programme is customised to match your child’s individual situation and developmental profile.
- Target Age: Approximately 4 years to primary school age
- Duration: Once every two weeks, over approximately three months
- Format: In-person or online
- Content: Sessions use structured slides and videos
- Fee: 10% discount applied (e.g. £135 for three sessions/month, same as standard therapy rate)
Guidance on UK SEND Systems
Based on your child’s current situation in Japan—whether attending a special needs class, receiving SEND support in a mainstream school, or enrolled in a specialist school—we provide consultations to help you select an appropriate educational setting in the UK that matches your child’s developmental profile and support needs.
We offer the most up-to-date local information about the UK’s special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system and available school options.
Please note: Consultations are provided as a paid service at our centre.
Our consultation includes:
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A brief professional review of your child's developmental profile and support needs
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Recommendations on the types of SEND support likely to be required in the UK
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Guidance on the UK education and SEND systems, including diagnostic pathways and how to apply for an EHCP (Education, Health and Care Plan)
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Information on school and nursery placement options in the UK
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Advice on how to continue care (e.g., medication, SaLT, OT) received in Japan after relocating
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Ongoing support before relocation, including online meetings and email communication
↓ Families who attend a consultation will receive our original presentation slides, which include the latest information on the UK SEND system to support your transition!





