Play is how children make sense of their world, and it's how they heal too.

Humanistic Play Therapy is a child-centred, non-directive approach that supports children's social, emotional and psychological wellbeing. In the playroom, your child gets to lead. They choose what to explore, how to express themselves, and how fast or slowly things move. Through play, children can begin to show us their inner world including their feelings, their struggles and their hopes in a way that feels natural and safe for them.

My role is to be fully present with your child, to make sure they feel safe, seen and accepted exactly as they are, big feelings and all.

What does a session look like?

Sessions take place in a private room where your child is free to express themselves without worry. The playroom has a wide range of toys and materials to choose from, messy and sensory play, imaginative play and dress ups, arts and crafts, games, a sandtray, dolls, teddies and puppets.

Your child can play in almost any way they like. They lead, and I follow — supporting them to feel safe and valued every step of the way.

Who is it for?

Humanistic Play Therapy is generally suitable for children aged 3 to 13. It can be a gentle and effective support for children experiencing:

• Trauma

• Grief and loss

• Anxiety and depression

• ADHD

• Social difficulties

• Low self-esteem

• Fears and phobias

• Toileting challenges

• Difficulties with emotional regulation, and more

Filial Play Therapy shifts the focus from the individual child to the relationship between child and parent or carer. Rather than working with your child alone, I work alongside you, supporting you to learn therapeutic play skills so you can have special, intentional play sessions with your child at home.

Because you know your child better than anyone, we can draw on that existing bond and deepen it. There is strong evidence that involving parents in children's therapy and nurturing this relationship is one of the most meaningful ways to support lasting change.

Who is it for?

Filial Play Therapy is suitable for families with children up to 12 years old. If you have older siblings at home, we'll also explore how these skills can strengthen those relationships too.

For children, filial therapy can help make sense of their feelings and inner world, build self-confidence and self-esteem, and deepen their trust in you.

For parents and carers, it can offer a richer understanding of your child's development and emotions, grow your confidence, and strengthen the warmth and connection between you.

For the whole family, it can ease difficult dynamics, support secure attachment, and open up more space for joy and playfulness together.

What to expect

There are four phases to the process:

1. We start by getting to know each other through an initial conversation and some observations of your family playing and being together.

2. I'll teach you key therapeutic play skills to use in your special playtime with your child.

3. We'll have supervised play sessions together, with gentle feedback to help you build confidence and connection.

4. We'll wrap up with some final reflections and talk about how to bring these skills into everyday life beyond the playroom.