In my therapy tool box, I offer a range of evidence-based therapies which, are relationally focussed and appropriate for working with children and adults. I value working in a culturally responsive and inclusive way and believe in the importance of promoting a felt sense of safety for my clients. My work is neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed. To support this, I offer you and your child a supportive, safe and welcoming environment with a dash of playfulness! 

The modalities I use are:


Children 

“Play is a child’s language and toys are the words” (Landreth, 2012)

The optimal environment for human healing occurs within a relational and experiential context. For infants, children and their families the best environment to foster this is within attachment relationships. When children have the experience of a valued person in their lives listening, deeply understanding and responding to their needs and feelings, they are able to grow and thrive. Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is a product of decades of rigorous research enquiry. CCPT creates therapeutic conditions for growth that is naturally occurring within all children. By helping children to know and accept themselves through "experiential and intuitive learning about the self" (Landreth, 2012), this approach helps children to feel safe, work through problems and heal. 


Adolescents

“Adolescents are not monsters. They are just people trying to learn how to make it among the adults in the world, who are probably not so sure of themselves” (Virginia Satir) 

Adolescence is a challenging time of growth and development. Many teenagers struggle to find a sense of place in a world that is rapidly changing and impacted by large scale problems, which teenagers are often very attuned to but feel helpless to influence. Add to that, issues with peers, school, family and mental health and adolescents can struggle. They have not yet developed life skills, emotion regulation or the cognitive ability that adults have. For teenagers, some days are growing up days and some days are growing down days. I offer individual or dyadic work (with parents), which assists your young person to manage the things that matter to them including their emotions, school issues, difficulties with friends and family, identity development, sexuality and gender, healing trauma and their mental health.


Parents

“It didn’t begin with you”  ( M Wolynn)

Becoming a parent is a wild and vulnerable ride, a bit like flying a kite. From conception, to birth and beyond, being a parent is not easy. There can be unexpected challenges as well as tender, heartfelt moments. Sometimes despite best intentions, great expectations or sheer willpower things can still go wrong that weren’t part of the plan. Parents can find themselves dealing with emotional and psychological pain from unexpected places. Pain that has long been buried bubbles up in a new way, now they have children, or difficult things happen that are out of their control. 

For others it can be difficult connecting with their child, particularly when under stress or having difficulty with their child’s behaviour. Today’s parents are juggling many life pressures and whilst all the balls are in the air, it goes well but as soon as something goes awry, it can get really hard. Your experience matters here, and it is my privilege to hold space for it. I look forward to joining with you on your journey of self-discovery, parenting confidence and relational connectedness.

I offer individual therapy sessions to parents at all stages of the parenting experience, parent groups, as well as parent and child work.