It can feel challenging finding the right support for your child. There are many reasons why you may be looking for support and it might feel confusing what support would be best for your child and your family. I am happy to meet for a free 15 minute phone call so that you can gain a better idea of what I am like and the support that I can offer.

I offer a range of approaches that I have learned over 7 years of training and I incorporate different approaches depending on what your child or family may be struggling with. These include play therapy, child psychotherapy and adapted CBT (for your child). I also incorporate Theraplay, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy (DDP), non violent resistance (NVR), systemic psychotherapy and therapeutic parenting and these approaches are ways to incorporate parents and carers (please see the more info tab for more details about these approaches).

Initially, I try to get a good understanding from parents and carers about the difficulties your child may be facing and how they developed over time. I may ask lots of questions and ask you (or your child) to fill out some questionnaires. Sometimes I may suggest to meet just with parents or carers.  Other times, it may feel more appropriate for me to meet more frequently with just your child or you and your child together. Whilst I may advise a particular approach, I work in partnership with families and we always make a plan together that you are happy with. I may need to see some families for longer periods, and I may only see a family for one or two sessions as they might feel they have enough understanding of the difficulties and have felt things have improved with the tools and strategies suggested.

Feeling comfortable and safe to express yourself in the therapy room is paramount and I create an environment to facilitate this. My therapy room is sensory-aware and neurodiversity-affirming. Children express their inner worlds and communicate their feelings that they may not have words for though play, storytelling, and creative activities. I have figures, toys, a dolls house, sand tray, puppets, art materials, clay, stationary, instruments and sensory toys/equipment to help facilitate children’s play and express their inner worlds. Here are some examples of what the therapy sessions may be like:

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I incorporate parents and carers as much as possible. When working with younger children, my primary aim is to help parents and carers develop a deeper understanding of their child's inner world, experiences, and needs helping to create the secure foundations that enable children and families to flourish.

I can help with the following:

• Anxiety

• School stress and emotional overwhelm

• Family relationships

• Low mood

• Fears/worries

• Difficulties with sleeping and eating

• Healing from traumatic experiences

• Navigating grief and loss 

• Friendship difficulties

• Bullying

• Lack of confidence/self-esteem

• The impact of neurodiversity

• Behaviour that feels challenging or confusing to others 

• Problems controlling anger

• Emotional regulation challenges

• Behavioural difficulties

• Developmental trauma/FASD/experiences of abuse and neglect

Exploring feelings and experiences with the sand tray and figures

Puppet play to help understand emotions

Art making to develop self-esteem and confidence