Nurturing, supporting and inspiring emotional wellbeing in children & young people
What is Play Therapy ?
Before we respond to behaviour, we need to understand its origin
Play Therapy is a type of therapy where play, sand and art materials are used as a way of helping children and young people to understand and express their thoughts and feelings. Children and young people often struggle with describing what is wrong and often display their distress either in an outwardly behaviour or they become withdrawn and quiet. By offering a variety of play and creative art materials in a safe therapeutic environment, I am able to help the child to connect with the emotions that they are struggling with. These sessions are non-judgmental, non-directive and non-interpretive.
It is these weekly Play Therapy sessions that will provide your child the opportunity to build confidence and concentration, make friends and learn about their ever-expanding world.
Who can I support?
Play Therapy is appropriate for children aged from 4 to 12 years of age
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It can support children through a range of difficulties such as;
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To process and express emotions in a safe environment
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To address trauma or abuse in a supportive setting.
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To develop coping skills for dealing with stress and anxiety.
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To develop a sense of identity and self-awareness.
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To address issues related to adoption or foster care.
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To explore gender identity or sexuality in a supportive environment.
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To explore and understand difficult life changes or transitions.
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To address perfectionism or fear of failure.
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To address sibling rivalry or conflicts within the family.
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To improve social skills and communication with peers.
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To address issues related to divorce or family conflict.
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To work through grief and loss.
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To address issues related to chronic illness or disability.
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To address attachment issues or difficulties forming relationships.
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To address bullying or peer pressure.
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To address behavioural issues such as aggression or withdrawal .
If you are a parent, carer or work within a educational setting, concerned about the emotional wellbeing of a child in your care then Play Therapy sessions could help. Each session is 40 minutes long and takes place at the same time every week for a minimum of 12 weeks dependent on the needs of the individual child. Contact me for information on prices.
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What is SandStory Therapy® ?
SandStory Therapy®: A Powerful Tool in Creative Arts Therapies
SandStory Therapy is a creative and effective therapy that can be used on its own or in conjunction with other creative art therapies, such as Play Therapy. It involves using sand and symbols to create stories that allow children and young adults to safely and gently explore and express their emotions, thoughts, and experiences.
You don't need to be skilled at storytelling or to benefit from SandStory Therapy. As humans, we naturally use stories to make sense of our lives and experiences. SandStory therapists are trained to provide support and structure to assist children and young adults in telling their stories using sand. They are also capable of identifying the emotional and symbolic components in each individual's unique story, promoting self-awareness, healing, and personal growth.
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What is SandStory Skills®?
SandStory Skills® is an exciting, new international training designed for professional, non-therapists involved in the care and support of the emotional wellbeing and personal growth of children and young people. Whatever your role; TA, SENCO Behavioural Support Practitioner, ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants), Nurture Group Leaders, Pastoral Teams, or childminders. Embarking on this journey will provide you with the soft skills required to not only nurture and support the children in you care, but will inspire them to naturally “tell their story in the sand”.​More importantly they have their needs met through “having their story heard!”
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The ways in which SandStory Skills® could benefit your setting are endless. For example, when welcoming a new child into the school, helping year 6 pupils who are finding the idea of transition into secondary school a challenge, the breakdown in their family, or to help unpick and gain an understanding of children with challenging behaviour.
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SandStory Skills® Practitioner Training
I have been personally trained by Lara Kasza, the creatrix of SandStory Skills® and all things SandStory® and am therefore able to offer the following training in a variety of different formats, including:
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Online Live Groups.
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Online Evergreen Individual format
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In person training for groups
Each for​mat takes 14 hours to complete On completion of this training course participants will be awarded ​a 14 CPD hour certificate and the title of "Registered ® Skills Practitioner" and invited to become a member, free of charge, of the International SandStory Association. The 14 CPD hours are accredited by the International SandStory Association.​​​​​​
