For children, play is the safest and most effective way to practice their life skills. From understanding their own complex feelings, to learning how to tolerate disappointments or distress, play is where it all happens. It is also where parents can step in and learn a bit more about their child’s unique perspectives. 
In my practice, I help children use their play to tell their grown-ups what they have been finding challenging. Once we are able to see what the play is showing us, most grown-ups start to come up with their own creative ways of how to support and respond to their child. This process strengthens not only the child-parent bond, but also develops a skill that can grow with the child and the parent as they face new challenges in the future.  

Play Therapy:

I believe that if parents feel supported and understood, the children also feel more confident and secure. Regardless of how skilled a clinician I can be, the parents are the ones who are at home with the kids, supporting them when life throws curveballs at them. The aim of my work is to support each and every family  to find new ways of approaching their challenges by remaining open, flexible and child-focused.
Sometimes this means I only work with parents, and support them to think more deeply about the needs of their child. Other times I help couples or co-parents to find ways of remaining consistent in their parenting, despite their own experience of conflict or tension. Other times I work with the child, as well as offer parent-only sessions to consolidate the work in therapy. 
Whatever you think might be helpful, it is always worth reaching out so we can think together about what suits your unique family and context.

Parent Support: