The Approach in Practice
The Archetype Approach began with observation. Noticing what happens when we look beneath behaviour, recognise the capacity a child is expressing, and change the response around them. These case studies share real examples from practice — the behaviour we first saw, what we began to understand beneath it, what we changed, and what happened next. The aim is not to prove that one approach has every answer. It is to show what can become possible when we see the child differently.
How we follow the child
Each case study follows the same reflective process.
OBSERVE
What is happening?
We begin with what can actually be seen — recurring behaviours, contexts, relationships and patterns. Before interpretation comes observation.
RECOGNISE
What pattern is this?
We look beneath the behaviour for the strengths, needs and archetypal patterns that may be taking shape.
BALANCE
What is missing?
Rather than trying to suppress the behaviour, we ask what might widen the child's available ways of responding. This may involve a change in adult response, relationship, environment or opportunity.
INTEGRATE
What has emerged?
We return to observation. What has become newly available to the child? What remained? What changed? And what does the evidence actually allow us to say?
Observe → Recognise → Balance → Integrate