Specialist Therapy
Play and Creative Therapy
Play Therapy and Creative Therapy offer children and teenagers a safe, non-judgmental space to explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in ways that feel natural to them. For younger children, play becomes the language through which emotions are expressed, while older children and teens often benefit from creative approaches such as art, games, and storytelling. These therapies do not rely on being “good” at art or play — instead, the focus is on expression and understanding. This gentle, integrative approach can help young people process difficult experiences such as grief, parental separation, school-related stress, trauma, neurodiverse experiences, illness, or major life events, while also building emotional awareness, resilience, and healthy coping skills.
SandStory Skills
SandStory® Skills is a powerful, story-based approach that supports emotional and social wellbeing through listening, storytelling, and metaphor. It allows children and young people to express complex feelings that may be difficult to put into words, particularly when experiences are stored non-verbally in the brain. Guided by the P.A.C.E. model developed by Dan Hughes, SandStory® Skills helps create a sense of safety, connection, and understanding. This method can be especially effective for young people who need extra support, offering a structured yet gentle way to explore emotions, develop insight, and find positive ways forward.
SandStory Professional Training
SandStory® Skills training is designed for school staff, social workers, and professionals who work with children and young people but are not therapists. The training provides practical, trusted tools to enhance emotional intelligence, strengthen relationships, and support wellbeing in educational and care settings. Courses are delivered in small groups to allow for personal guidance and support, with flexible options including a 3-hour inset session, a 1-day introductory experience, or a 2-day certificated course for SandStory® Skills Practitioners, offering 14 hours of CPD. These sessions empower professionals with practical skills they can confidently use in their everyday work.
My Approach
At the heart of everything I do is a deep belief that every child deserves to feel safe, seen, and understood. My approach is integrative, meaning I draw from a range of evidence-based therapeutic methods and tailor each session to the individual needs of the child or young person in front of me.
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I work primarily through play, creativity, and storytelling, because these are the natural languages of childhood. Rather than expecting children to sit and talk about how they feel, I create a space where they can show me through art, movement, games, sand, or imaginative play. There is no pressure to perform or produce, only space to express.
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I am guided by the P.A.C.E. model developed by Dr Dan Hughes. Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy which underpins a relationship-based, trauma-informed way of working. This means that building trust and connection comes first, and therapy unfolds gently from there.
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I work with children and young people aged 5 to 15, and I always involve parents and carers in the process.
