Supporting Children's Well-Being and Mental Health & Clinical Supervision
Chesham, Amersham, The Chalfonts, Great Missenden, Wendover and surroundings areas in Buckinghamshire
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About Me - My Approach
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 specialise in providing therapy sessions within mainstream primary schools and SEN secondary schools, working closely with children and families in Chesham and the surrounding areas of Buckinghamshire.
My Approach
I believe that children's behaviour always has meaning. Rather than asking "What's wrong?", I am interested in asking "What might this child be trying to tell us?"
Through play, creativity and relationship, I aim to help children feel understood, accepted and supported. Whether I am working with a child, a parent, a school or a supervisee, curiosity and connection sit at the heart of my work.
As an approved Play Therapy provider at Buckinghamshire Council Adoption Team, I offer Play and Creative Arts Therapy sessions specifically tailored for Adopted children, Looked After Children (LAC), and those cared for under Special Guardianship Orders (SGO).
I am also qualified to provide Parent-Child Attachment Play (PCAP) sessions and serve as a Registered SandStory Therapist for children aged 8 and older, adolescents, and adults. My qualifications include a Certificate in Child and Adolescent Counselling Skills from The Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE), in partnership with the Centre for Child Mental Health (CCMH).
Currently, I am training as a Creative Clinical Supervisor through Play Therapy UK (PTUK) and hold the designation of Certified Autism Spectrum Disorder Clinical Specialist (ASDCS).
Moreover, I have received training in several areas, including Developmental Trauma, applying the Polyvagal Theory to Child Therapy, the Adoption Informed Therapist Programme, addressing self-harming behaviors in children and teens, and building Emotional Regulation Skills in Young People.
With over 2000 hours of therapeutic experience working with children in both mainstream primary and SEN secondary schools, I have engaged with them in one-on-one settings as well as in groups. My extensive experience spans over 20 years, during which I have worked with children aged 4-17 across three countries: the UK, Spain, and Germany. As a parent of two teenage children myself, I understand the unique challenges families face.
Additionally, I spent over 13 years as a qualified teacher in primary and secondary schools under the Buckinghamshire County Council. I am listed on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists managed by PTUK, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
I am fully DBS checked, hold a Safeguarding Children Level 3 (DSL) certification, maintain professional liability insurance, am registered with the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), and actively participate in regular supervision and Continuing Professional Development (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, allowing them to explore the world, make sense of life, show their feelings, and connect with others. This is why play is incredibly useful for helping children resolve their troubles and worries, as well as express their thoughts and emotions at their own level.
Through play and creative activities, children have the opportunity to work through their feelings without needing to explain themselves verbally. This process enables them to explore complex emotions and upsetting events that they may not have had the chance to process adequately. Ultimately, it helps them understand and make sense of their feelings and behaviors.
In play therapy, the child leads the way, and the therapist focuses on forming a trusting therapeutic relationship. This relationship allows children to feel free to express themselves in any manner they wish, as they feel accepted, safe, noticed, and understood.
Creating a safe environment is essential for enabling children’s free expression without the fear of judgment. Throughout this process, the child receives emotional support, ensuring that their experiences remain confidential.
Confidentiality is a cornerstone of play therapy. All details regarding children, parents, and families are kept strictly confidential unless shared with other professionals in the best interest of the child, and only with the parent's permission. This aspect of the therapeutic relationship fosters trust, making it easier for the child to feel safe and express themselves freely.
What you should expect from my services:
- An initial telephone conversation
- A follow-up 1-1 meeting to discuss my role
- Completion of any necessary paperwork
- Assurance of confidentiality
- A planned number of sessions
- A 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 benefit any child who has faced challenges such as physical, sexual, or emotional abuse, grief and loss from the death of loved ones or pets, parental separation and divorce, domestic abuse, or living with substance abuse during early childhood. Additionally, it can help children who have experienced various forms of early childhood trauma, struggle with low self-esteem, attachment difficulties, peer relationship issues, low school attendance, selective mutism, aggressive behavior, bullying, or those who are withdrawn, fearful, anxious, or timid. Children dealing with lack of confidence, ADHD, ASD, EBSNA (Emotional Based School Non-Attendance), emotional and behavioral issues, and developmental trauma can also find support through play therapy.
How will play therapy help?
Play therapy offers numerous benefits, including improved self-esteem, greater self-control, self-awareness, and self-regulation. It helps reduce anxiety, enhances coping skills, boosts resilience, improves relationship management, and fosters better behavior while providing a deeper understanding of past experiences.
What happens in play therapy sessions?
Play therapy sessions occur in a specially designed playroom, equipped with various toys and creative materials that the child can choose from to engage in play with minimal limitations. Tools used in play therapy include storytelling, sensory play, puppetry, sand play, and creative mediums such as clay, music, and small-world play.
