"Enter into children’s play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts, and souls meet.”
— Virginia Axline, pioneer of Child-Centred Play Therapy
Children
Play Therapy is a gentle, child-centred form of therapy that uses play, the child’s natural way of communicating, to help children express, explore and process their feelings and experiences.
Children do not always have the words to explain what is happening in their inner world or to make sense of experiences that they may find difficult, confusing or overwhelming. Through play, art, therapeutic stories, imagination, sensory materials, movement and creativity, children can communicate and express themselves in ways that feel natural and comfortable to them.
I provide a warm, accepting and supportive space for each child. I follow the child’s lead, allowing the therapeutic relationship and their play to guide the work.
Play Therapy supports children in developing a greater understanding of themselves and their emotions, finding new ways of managing difficulties, building confidence and recognising their own strengths.
At the heart of my work is the therapeutic relationship — providing a space where a child can feel safe, accepted, heard and understood.
Adolescents
Adolescence is a time of significant growth, change and self-discovery. While it can be an exciting stage of life, it can also bring uncertainty, difficult emotions and new challenges as young people begin to explore who they are and find their place in the world.
Therapy offers adolescents a confidential, non-judgemental place where they can feel heard, understood and supported. It gives young people the opportunity to explore what is happening for them and to make sense of thoughts, feelings and experiences that may sometimes be difficult to understand or put into words. This might include relationships, identity and belonging, self-esteem, anxiety, difficult life experiences or simply navigating the many changes and pressures that can come with growing up. Through a trusting therapeutic relationship, young people can develop greater self-awareness, recognise their strengths, build confidence and discover ways of managing challenges in a way that feels right for them.
In my work with adolescents, each young person is met as an individual, with therapy shaped around their needs, interests, pace and preferred ways of expressing themselves.
Parent Support
Being a parent or guardian can bring so much joy, but it can also bring times of worry, uncertainty and challenge. When your child is struggling, it can be difficult to know what they need or how best to support them, and it’s natural to sometimes feel unsure of the way forward.
Parents and guardians sometimes need a space where they can feel supported too. I offer a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can talk openly about your concerns, feel heard and understood, and explore what may be happening for your child and family.
Together, we can explore your child’s emotional world, what may lie beneath their feelings or behaviours, and ways of responding that support connection, understanding and emotional wellbeing.
Parents are the experts when it comes to their own child but sometimes having someone alongside you, offering another perspective and a safe space to reflect, can help you feel more confident in understanding and supporting your child.
Parents and guardians play an important role in the therapeutic process. By working together, my hope is that both you and your child can feel supported, understood and less alone in navigating the challenges that arise along the way.