History
The success of Kaleidoscope, how it has developed and evolved since its formation in the early-nineties is attributed to Angela Thorne, her totally balanced career, although she probably calls it a vocation, led her to realise that looked after children needed an integrated approach to their care, where care needs must be provided alongside psychotherapy to help them heal their previous abusive experiences.
After some time as a teacher in the state education system Angela moved on to become a social worker, youth worker and latterly worked with traumatised young people as a child therapist. This combined with her personal experiences as a parent, step-parent and Local Authority foster carer looking after severely attachment disordered young people.
This unique insight into the needs of children who have suffered abuse and neglect, and how they can be helped spurred her to create an extremely viable alternative to residential care.
The Need for an Integrated Approach
Finding there was no organisation providing an integrated approach to child care that may keep children away from the 'short answer' of residential care - she set up Kaleidoscope. Its aim, to bring together best care, therapy and educational support under one roof to help children overcome their early trauma and grow into adulthood as well-adjusted happy individuals who would contribute positively to society, rather than continuing, with their own children, the cycle of abuse that has so affected them.
Angela Thorne is one of a small number of therapists in the UK who trained with Dr Greg Keck, of the Attachment and Bonding Centre in Ohio, when he came to the UK under the auspices of PPIAS and the Post-Adoption Centre in 1995.