Professionals
When a child’s needs are complex, it can be difficult for the adults around them to hold a shared understanding of what is happening. Here are some of the ways I can work alongside you to think and support children:
Who I work alongside
- Schools and education settings
- Looked-after childrens' services
- Mental health services
- Social care services
- Therapists and other practitioners
- Charities and voluntary organisations
- Other professionals supporting children and families
Therapeutic work with children and young people
I offer Play Therapy and Creative Therapy for children and young people who are struggling to make sense of something they are experiencing or have experienced. I work collaboratively with parents, carers and the professionals around the child, where appropriate.
Thinking Together
Just as children do not exist in isolation, neither do the professionals working with them.This work can be challenging and demanding. Having space to think together helps professionals understand what may be happening for a child and decide how best to respond.
Some of ways to think together include:
• Therapeutic Consultation and Case Formulation
Consultation offers a collaborative space to look at what is happening, think about the relationships and context around the child, and develop a shared understanding that helps us decide what might help.
• Reflective Practice
Reflective practice provides a psychologically informed space where small groups of professionals can pause, think together and develop greater understanding of the emotional impact of their work.
Sessions support curiosity rather than judgement, helping teams respond thoughtfully to complexity while strengthening relational practice.
• Supervision
Supervision is available for play therapists, counsellors, nurses and professionals working therapeutically with children and young people. It provides a place where you can bring the complexity of the work, slow down, think about what is happening, notice your own responses, and consider what might help.
Understanding and Supporting Relationships
• Relationship-Focussed Work
• Specialist Assessment
Alongside Play and Creative Therapy, I offer Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT), with specific adaptations for working with families of looked-after children. I also offer Child-Teacher Relationship Therapy, supporting school staff to strengthen their relationship with a child and think about how this relationship can support the child's emotional and relational development.
CAPA – Child Attachment and Play Assessment
The Child Attachment and Play Assessment is a play-based assessment which has been designed specifically for children, between the ages of 3–11 years, who have experienced early life trauma and neglect. It is particularly helpful in understanding the impact of developmental trauma and planning therapeutic support packages to meet a child’s individual needs.
More information can be found here: About the CAPA
Developing Practice
• Training
Bespoke training can be developed around the needs of your team and may include understanding behaviour through a relational lens, supporting children affected by trauma and loss, and understanding the emotional impact of the work on professionals. Please contact me to discuss your training requirements further.
Read more about my Professional Qualifications and Experience.