MG Therapy: Supporting Children's Well-Being and Mental Health
Chesham, Amersham, The Chalfonts, Great Missenden, Wendover and surrounding areas in Buckinghamshire.
Home
About me
Play Therapy: How Does It Work and What to Expect from My Services
Play Therapy: How Does It Work and What to Expect from My Services
My name is Maria Guerrero and I’m a Certified Play and Creative Arts Therapist, holding Level 7 postgraduate training.
I am a school-based therapist, providing sessions in mainstream primary schools and SEN secondary schools. I work with children and families in Chesham and surrounding areas in Buckinghamshire.
I am an approved Play Therapy provider at Buckinghamshire Council Adoption Team.
I offer Play and Creative Arts Therapy sessions to Adopted children, Looked After Children (LAC) and children cared under Special Guardianship (SGO).
I am qualified to provide Parent-Child Attachment Play (PCAP) sessions.
I am also a Registered SandStory Therapist working with children 8+, adolescents and adults.
I hold a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counselling Skills awarded by The Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE) delivered in partnership with Centre for Child Mental Health (CCMH).
I am a Creative Clinical Supervisor in training through Play Therapy UK (PTUK).
I am a Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).
Additionally, I am trained in:
- Developmental Trauma
- Applying the Polyvagal Theory to Child Therapy
- Adoption Informed Therapist Programme
- Self-harming in children and teens
- Building Emotional Regulation Skills in Young People
I have over 2000 hours of experience working therapeutically with children in mainstream primary schools and SEN secondary schools, both in 1:1 and in groups.
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.
I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists which is managed by PTUK (Play Therapy UK) which is accredited by the PSA (Professional Standards Authority).
I am DBS checked, hold a Safeguarding Children Level 3 (DSL) and a professional liability insurance, am registered with ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office ) and attend regular supervision and CPD training.
Play Therapy: How Does It Work and What to Expect from My Services
Play Therapy: How Does It Work and What to Expect from My Services
Play Therapy: How Does It Work 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.
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.
What you should expect from my services:
- An initial telephone conversation
- Followed by 1-1 meeting to discuss my role
- Completion of any necessary paperwork
- Confidentiality
- Planned number of sessions
- Follow up review
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
Play Therapy: How Does It Work and What to Expect from My Services
Play Therapy: Benefits and What Happens in Play Therapy Sessions
Play Therapy can help any child who:
· Has experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
· 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.
. ADHD
. ASD
. EBSNA (Emotional Based School Non-Attendance)
. Emotional and behavioural issues
. Developmental Trauma
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.
