My Role as a Play Therapist

As a qualified mental health professional, I use play as a therapeutic tool to support children aged 4 to 12 in exploring their emotions, expressing themselves, and overcoming psychological challenges. I have experience providing play therapy in primary school settings and supporting neurodiverse children, including those with ASD, ADHD, anxiety, low self-esteem, grief, and low confidence. For the past five years, I have worked with a charitable organisation in Reading, offering specialised therapeutic support to children affected by sexual abuse and harm.

I work alongside parents and other professionals to ensure children receive holistic support. My focus is on creating safe, trusting, and empowering therapeutic spaces where children feel heard, valued, and in control of their own healing. Through child-led play, I help children navigate emotions, build resilience, and strengthen their mental health and overall development.

Key Responsibilities

• Assessment: Conduct thorough, child-sensitive assessments to understand each child’s needs, set collaborative goals, and track progress over time.

• Therapeutic Play Sessions: Facilitate play-based sessions using art, storytelling, role-play, and imaginative activities that allow children to express emotions safely and creatively.

• Individual Therapy: Offer personalised, one-on-one support that helps children process feelings, develop coping strategies, and work through experiences such as trauma and anxiety.

• Parental Involvement: Keep parents informed about their child’s progress, offering guidance and referrals to family or systemic therapy when needed.

• Collaboration: Partner with teachers, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders to provide coordinated support, including participating in multidisciplinary meetings.

• Record Keeping: Maintain clear and sensitive records of sessions, preparing reports for parents, schools, and other relevant parties.

• Professional Development: Continuously enhance my knowledge in child psychology and play therapy through training, workshops, and reflective practice.

I have dedicated 25 years to working with children in diverse professional roles, ultimately finding a deeply rewarding career supporting children experiencing emotional or psychological challenges.

I earned a BA in Therapeutic Psychology from Roehampton University, London, where I developed skills in building supportive relationships and creating welcoming environments. This foundation emphasised safety, trust, inclusion, and the importance of being truly heard -principles that guide my work to this day.

I completed a Master’s in Play Therapy, learning to create playful, empowering spaces where children can make choices, express themselves freely, and lead their own therapeutic journey. Through this training, I gained expertise in establishing therapeutic relationships within clear boundaries, conducting sensitive assessments, and planning child-centred play therapy sessions that celebrate individual and cultural differences as valuable resources.

As a registered member of the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT), my clinical practice is rigorously supervised to ensure the highest ethical and professional standards. I also maintain up-to-date Professional Civil Liability Insurance and hold an Advanced DBS, covering my work in the private sector.