Supporting Children's Well-Being and Mental Health
Chesham, Amersham, The Chalfonts, Great Missenden, Wendover and surrounding areas in Buckinghamshire.
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About me and what to expect from my services
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
About me and what to expect from my services
My name is Maria Guerrero and I have over 20 years of experience working with children aged 4-17 in three countries: the UK, Spain and Germany.
I have two teenage children of my own.
I worked as a qualified teacher in primary and secondary schools for Buckinghamshire County Council for over 13 years. During the last 3 years, I've also been offering my services as a practitioner in therapy in various schools.
I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists which is managed by PTUK and has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. This programme was set up by the Authority to improve standards and safety for the benefit of the public in general and in this case, the children in particular. This accreditation demonstrates their commitment to high professional standards, to enhancing safety and delivering a better service.
PTUK is affiliated with APAC (Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy) which is accredited by the PSA (Professional Standards Authority).
I am an Attachment Play Practitioner (APP) trained in Parent-Child Attachment Play (PCAP).
I am trained in Developmental Trauma.
I am also trained in Applying the Polyvagal Theory to Child Therapy.
Additionally, I am specialised in Dyslexia.
What you should expect from my service:
¨ An initial telephone conversation
¨ Followed by 1-1 meeting with me to discuss my role
¨ Completion of any necessary paperwork
¨ Confidentiality
¨ Planned number of sessions
¨ Follow up review
Play Therapy: How Does It Work
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
About me and what to expect from my services
Play is a child's natural form of expression. Children use play to explore the world, make sense of life, show others how they feel, and connect with people. That's why play is so useful for helping children to resolve their troubles and worries and express thoughts or emotions at their own level.
It provides children with opportunities to work -without having to verbally explain themselves- through play and creative activities and explore their muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven’t had the chance to process properly for whatever reason. This can then help them to make sense of and understand how they feel and behave.
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The play therapist is led by the child and aims to form a trusting therapeutic relationship with them so that they feel free to express themselves in any way they wish because they feel accepted, safe, noticed, and understood.
This safe environment is the right framework to enable their free expression without feeling judged. Throughout this process, the child receives emotional support which is confidential to them.
Confidentiality
Play therapy is confidential. All the details about children, parents, and families are kept confidential unless, with the parent's permission, they need to be shared with other professionals in the best interests of the child. This is part of the therapeutic relationship that helps the child to trust their therapist and feel safe to express themselves.
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
Play Therapy can help any child who:
· Has experienced abuse, physical, sexual, or emotional
· Has experienced grief and loss from losing loved ones or pets
· Has experienced parental separation and divorce
· Has experienced domestic abuse
· Has experienced living with substance abuse in early childhood
· Has experienced some other form of early childhood trauma
· Has a low self-esteem
· Has attachment difficulties
· Is struggling with peer relationships
· Has a low school attendance
· Has selective mutism or difficulties expressing themselves verbally
· Has aggressive and anger issues
· Bullies or is bullied
· Is withdrawn, fearful, anxious, or timid.
· Is lacking in confidence.
. Has ADHD
. Has ASD
. Has EBSA (Emotional Based School Avoidance)
. Emotional and behavioural problems
How will play therapy help?
Play therapy provides many benefits, including improved self-esteem, greater self-control, and self-awareness, self-regulation, reduced anxiety, improved ability to cope and greater resilience, improvements in the way the child manages relationships, improvements in behaviour and a better understanding of past experiences.
What happens in play therapy sessions?
The sessions take place in a playroom. The room includes a variety of toys and creative materials which the child is able to choose from and play with very few limitations.
Some of the tools used in play therapy are story-telling, sensory play, puppetry, sand play, creative mediums such as clay, music, and small-world play.
