Practice

Play therapy for children, support for parents, and what families can expect from the process.

Understanding Difficulties

Behaviour can be a form of communication.

When a child is having a hard time meeting the needs of their environment, it can look and feel like challenging behaviour. A child-led perspective is to understand this behaviour as communication: a sign that the child is overwhelmed or that important needs are not being met.

Who I Work With

Support for children and the adults around them.

I work with children who may be struggling to make sense of their feelings, navigate relationships, or cope with life transitions, and I support the adults around them to better understand and respond to these experiences.

  • Anxiety, worries, or low mood
  • Emotional outbursts or behavioural changes
  • Difficulties with regulation or overwhelm
  • Attachment or relationship difficulties
  • Developmental differences including ASD, ADHD, or learning needs
  • Social or peer challenges
  • Life transitions such as starting school or family changes
  • Grief, loss, or significant life events
  • Low confidence or self-esteem
  • Challenges expressing feelings or being understood

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

What Play Therapy Is

A developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed therapeutic approach.

Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of psychotherapy that uses play as the primary medium of communication. Grounded in child development, attachment theory, and relational neuroscience, it enables children to express and process internal experiences through symbolism, metaphor, and interaction.

Within a safe, attuned therapeutic relationship, play therapy supports emotional regulation, integration of experience, and developmental growth, particularly for children who may not yet have the verbal capacity to articulate 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, allowing the child to communicate in ways that feel natural and manageable for them.

Through a consistent and attuned therapeutic relationship, the child begins to explore feelings, process experiences, and develop greater emotional regulation. Over time, this supports increased confidence, resilience, and more secure relationships.

The process is both child-led and clinically guided, meaning the therapist holds clear boundaries and therapeutic intention while allowing the child’s needs and pace to shape the work.

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 an opportunity to share your concerns, ask questions, and explore whether play therapy is the right fit.

Your child will then attend regular play therapy sessions in a safe and consistent space. Sessions are child-led, allowing your child to express themselves through play at their own pace, while being supported by a trained therapist.

Regular check-ins with parents are an important part of the process. These provide space to reflect on progress, share insights, and support you in responding to your child’s needs at home. Therapy works best as a collaborative process, where both the child and the adults around them feel supported.

When to Consider Play Therapy

Noticing when extra support may help.

It can be helpful to consider play therapy 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 their needs
  • Experiencing challenges with friendships or relationships
  • Going through a significant life change such as separation, a move, or a new sibling
  • Coping with grief, loss, or a difficult experience
  • Presenting with developmental differences and needing additional emotional support

You don’t need to wait until things feel severe. Early support can make a meaningful difference.

If you’re unsure, you’re 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 an opportunity to explore whether play therapy feels like the right fit for your child and family. It allows space to share concerns, ask questions, and begin forming a picture of your child’s needs.

Consultation session

If appropriate, a more in-depth parent consultation is arranged after the discovery call. This helps determine whether play therapy is suitable for your child at this time and ensures the process feels right for both the family and the therapist.

Parent support and intake

Following this, parent sessions and or an intake process may be offered to gather a fuller understanding of your child within their family, school, and wider context. This systemic perspective helps shape the therapeutic approach and supports consistency around the child.

Play therapy sessions

Your child will attend regular one-to-one play therapy sessions in a safe, consistent, and child-led environment. A minimum of 12 sessions is recommended to allow trust, safety, and meaningful therapeutic work to develop.

Review points

Progress is reviewed regularly, typically every 6 to 8 sessions. These check-ins provide an opportunity to reflect on your child’s development, share observations, and consider next steps together.

Closing, pausing, or transitioning

Ending therapy is a thoughtful and gradual process, ensuring your child feels safe and supported in the transition. In some cases, therapy may be paused or adapted, depending on your child’s needs. These decisions are always made collaboratively, with care and clear communication.

Parents and Carers as Part of the Process

Parents and carers are an essential part of the therapeutic journey.

A child’s progress is supported not only within the therapy room, but through the relationships and environments around them.

Parent support sessions play an important role in this process. They offer space to reflect, deepen understanding of your child’s emotional world, and explore ways to strengthen connection and support at home.

The work is collaborative, with a shared focus on building insight, confidence, and the capacity to respond to your child in ways that support lasting change.

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. You can also read more about my background and approach.