Play therapy is a developmentally appropriate way of helping children with their ‘big feelings’ that manifest in unhelpful behaviours It capitalises on children’s ‘natural language’ – play – to reduce anxiety and help them learn Talking about feelings can be stressful for children, but play helps them communicate through the safe metaphor of art or a game ​ Play is fun but also powerful, flooding the brain with feel-good endorphins.  Neuroscience has shown that play reshapes the brain, building connections between different areas and integrating the hemispheres.  New ways of thinking and responding can be learned through play.

Any child from age 4 experiencing emotional difficulties. Play therapy is a non-directive, non-judgmental, child-affirming approach. The therapist adapts and accommodates to the needs of the child. ​Play therapy can be helpful for: - Emotional and behavioural difficulties - Communication problems - Nightmares - Family difficulties or change - Bullying issues - Attachment difficulties - Trauma or crisis - Loss or bereavement - Low self-esteem - Difficulties related to neurodivergence.

Individual sessions are usually about 45 minutes long and in them children have free access to sand, toys and creative materials.  The child chooses the activities and themes while the therapist maintains safe boundaries and engages fully with the child, attuning to their emotions, co-regulating them and paying attention to what is being communicated through their play, using this to inform the therapy. Developmentally, children are more able to 'show' than 'tell'.​