Practice

Play therapy for children and families in Wicklow, with support for parents and carers and a clear sense of what the process can look like.

Understanding Difficulties

Behaviour can be a form of communication.

When a child is having difficulty coping with the demands of their environment, it can show up as challenging behaviour. A child-led perspective is to understand this behaviour as communication: a sign that the child is overwhelmed or that important needs may not be being met.

Who I Work With

Support for children and the adults around them.

I work with children and families in Wicklow and South Dublin, supporting children who may be struggling with feelings, relationships, or life changes and helping the adults around them respond with greater understanding.

  • Anxiety, worries, or low mood
  • Emotional outbursts or changes in behaviour
  • Difficulties with regulation or overwhelm
  • Relationship or attachment difficulties
  • Developmental differences including ASD, ADHD, or learning needs
  • Life transitions, grief, or significant change
  • Challenges with confidence, friendships, or expressing feelings

If you are unsure whether therapy is the right step, you are welcome to get in touch to talk things through.

What Play Therapy Is

A developmentally appropriate therapeutic approach.

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play as the primary way children communicate and process experience. Grounded in child development, attachment theory, and neuroscience, it helps children express feelings and work through experiences in ways that match their stage of development.

Within a safe therapeutic relationship, play therapy can support emotional regulation, integration of experience, and developmental growth, especially for children who may not yet have the words to explain their inner world.

How Play Therapy Works

A safe, structured, and child-led process.

Play therapy takes place in a safe and thoughtfully prepared environment, where children are supported to express themselves through play. The therapist follows the child’s lead while holding clear boundaries and therapeutic intention, so the work feels both safe and manageable.

Over time, a consistent therapeutic relationship can help children explore feelings, process experiences, strengthen emotional regulation, and build confidence, resilience, and more secure relationships.

What to Expect for Parents

A supportive process for both you and your child.

The process usually begins with an initial parent consultation to understand your child’s needs, history, and current challenges. This is a space to share concerns, ask questions, and consider whether play therapy feels like the right fit.

If therapy goes ahead, your child attends regular sessions in a safe and consistent space, while parents and carers remain an important part of the process. Regular check-ins provide space to reflect on progress, share insights, and think together about how best to support your child at home.

The work is collaborative, with the aim of supporting both your child and the adults around them.

When to Consider Play Therapy

Noticing when extra support may help.

Play therapy may be helpful if your child is:

  • Feeling anxious, worried, or low in mood
  • Showing changes in behaviour such as withdrawal, aggression, or difficulty listening
  • Struggling with emotional regulation or becoming easily overwhelmed
  • Finding it hard to express feelings or communicate needs
  • Experiencing challenges with friendships or relationships
  • Going through a significant life change
  • Coping with grief, loss, or a difficult experience
  • Needing additional emotional support alongside developmental differences

You do not need to wait until things feel severe. Early support can make a meaningful difference.

If you are unsure, you are welcome to get in touch to talk through your concerns.

Play Therapy Pathway

A thoughtful and structured process.

Initial discovery call

A free phone discovery call offers space to explore whether play therapy may be the right fit for your child and family, and to share initial concerns or questions.

Consultation session

If appropriate, a more in-depth parent consultation follows to understand your child’s needs and consider whether therapy feels suitable at this time.

Parent support and intake

Parent sessions and intake may be used to build a fuller understanding of your child within their family, school, and wider context, helping shape the therapeutic approach.

Play therapy sessions

Your child attends regular one-to-one play therapy sessions in a safe, consistent, and child-led environment. A minimum of 12 sessions is usually recommended.

Review points

Progress is reviewed regularly, usually every 6 to 8 sessions, with space to reflect together and consider next steps.

Closing, pausing, or transitioning

Ending therapy is approached thoughtfully so your child feels safe and supported. Where needed, therapy may also be paused or adapted in response to changing needs.

Next Step

If the practice feels like the right direction, book a discovery call.

The Discovery Call page is the best place to begin an initial conversation about fit, support, and next steps if you are looking for play therapy in Wicklow or South Dublin. You can also read more about my background and approach.

Go to Discovery Call