Services I Offer

Play Therapy

Play Therapy is a child-led clinical therapy which is designed to help children explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe and trusting environment.  The therapeutic relationship built between the therapist and child is key to the therapy, with a toolkit of toys on offer to help facilitate play.
It can be hard to put our feelings into words, and this can be especially true for children who have not yet built an advanced vocabulary.  For children, play is the language they use to explore feelings, try out solutions and experience alternative approaches to their difficulties.  
Play Therapy is usually offered on a one to one basis, however group therapy can be offered where appropriate.

Filial Therapy

In Filial Therapy parents or carers are trained by an experienced therapist to gain an insight into to their child’s play, to allow the opportunity for a child's experiences or difficulties to be altered and tested out through play activities.  The therapist will work with the parent's or carer's to learn therapeutic skills to help the adult to see through the child's eyes, strengthening the relationship and building trustful experiences. Filial Therapy can be offered one to one or in a group setting.

Parent-Child Attachment Play (PCAP)

PCAP is a 10-step program which aims to strengthen the parent-child relationship. 
The PCAP practitioner works with the parent to encourage playfulness and teach skills to empower the parent to build a more secure relationship with their child.  
It is a gentle play-based approach which provides parents with the skills to improve family relationships. PCAP can be offered one to one or in a group setting.

AutPlay Therapy

AutPlay Therapy is a play therapy and behavioural therapy approach, which also combines learnings from Filial therapy, Theraplay, and CBT.  It is designed to work specifically with children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder and other developmental or neurological difficulties. 
AutPlay Therapy uses a combination of techniques and approaches which are both directive and non-directive.  Goals of therapy are important and there are three main areas of development expected to develop during treatment; social skills, emotion regulation and connection.  Secondary to this Autplay also aims to address and support difficulties with sensory processing, reduce anxiety and affect behaviour change.

Consultation with Schools

I have worked in primary schools for a number of years, and recognise that the expectation upon school staff to support children and their families with wellbeing and mental health difficulties has significantly grown.  Staff may not feel that they have been trained well enough to deal with many of the issues which arise, or may not know where to begin when a crisis happens.
I can offer consultation around one off issues, or a whole school approach to building an emotionally healthy school.  
I can also offer therapeutic support for children which can take place within the school setting (for example if pupil premium funding was available for an individual child or group of children)
Once again the package of support can be specifically designed to support the individual pupil or school.

Workshops and Training

Throughout the year I will offer one off workshops on a range of subjects connected to mental health and wellbeing.  

The workshops will usually last for 2-3 hours and aim to support parents and carers to better understand their child’s behaviour or presenting difficulties.  

All workshops will be based around a gentle and nurturing approach to parenting, and aim to educate as well as strengthen relationships.

If you have a subject in which you would be interested in learning more about, please get in touch.

Here are some of the workshops which will be offered throughout 2020:

• Understanding childhood anxiety

• Behaviour and relationships

• Understanding the child’s language of play

• Helping your child through bereavement and loss

• Helping your child through separation and divorce