Play Therapy Services: Enhancing Parent-Child Attachment and Mental Health

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I accept referrals from a variety of sources, including primary schools, secondary schools (up to Year 8), SEN primary schools, SEN secondary schools, the Buckinghamshire Council Adoption Team, and private referrals from parents or carers. My focus is on enhancing parent-child attachment through individual 1:1 sessions, which typically last 40 minutes. In addition, I provide group play therapy sessions that incorporate sandstory therapy techniques. These sessions are held at the same time and location on a weekly basis.

Parent-Child Attachment Play is an innovative early help model designed for parents/carers and children aged 3 to late teens, focusing on strengthening the parent-child attachment. This gentle and nurturing play-based approach equips parents/carers with the essential skills to enhance family relationships through effective play therapy techniques. At the heart of PCAP is the belief that parents/carers are the experts on their child and can serve as the ‘change agents’ within their families. Research indicates that this approach significantly increases attachment security in children and is grounded in both theory and evidence.

The sessions are suitable for individuals, couples, and groups.

How can I help?

As a Parent-Child Attachment Play Practitioner, I utilize a 10-step approach through which I share 3 key skills with parents/carers during interactive sessions. This allows them to learn, practice, and implement these skills effectively. I support parents/carers as they integrate these skills into their home life, helping them connect with their child and build or repair their relationship.

My goal is to empower parents/carers to strengthen their relationship with their children through dedicated weekly play times, reducing emotional and behavioral challenges while fostering a more secure bond. I assist them in developing play skills and deepening connections with their children, incorporating techniques from sandstory therapy.

Parents/carers play a vital role in their children’s well-being!

*This program can be offered: 

- as supportive sessions designed specifically for parents/carers 

- while children are on a waiting list to access therapeutic support 

- as a supplement following a course of play therapy sessions, to seamlessly integrate the therapeutic process of the child into their family life.

SandStory Therapy® is a Creative Arts Therapy modality that can be offered as a stand-alone option or integrated into Play Therapy sessions and Creative Arts Therapy. This innovative approach is designed for children aged 8 years and older, young people, and adults, fostering strong parent-child attachment through creative expression. SandStory Therapy® uniquely blends the therapeutic techniques of SandTray Therapy, SandPlay Therapy, and the narrative tradition of Storytelling. The incorporation of sand, water, and symbols within a contained sand tray, along with storytelling, aids children, teens, and adults in their expressive process, allowing them to gently and safely explore their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This method enhances empowerment, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills while improving communication in a non-verbal manner and nurturing creativity and recognition of themes that support growth and development. Trained SandStory therapists offer the essential support and structure needed to assist clients—children, teens, and adults—in sharing their stories using sand. Both directive and non-directive methods are utilized to facilitate self-expression and creative exploration of experiences and emotions. This therapy approach effectively builds a bridge between the unconscious and the conscious.

I am a Creative Clinical Supervisor in training, currently completing my training through Play Therapy UK (PTUK). My approach to Clinical Supervision is inherently creative, incorporating methods such as sand, art, clay, and various cards alongside traditional talking and reflection. This creative approach not only supports the Supervisee in developing their clinical practice but also encourages them to explore their clients' experiences, including vital aspects like parent-child attachment, through play therapy and sandstory therapy techniques.

I work with both individuals and groups. Creative Clinical Supervision is beneficial for any professional aiming to delve into their clinical caseload, including:

- Trainee and Qualified Play Therapists

- Other Creative Therapists

- School Staff

- Social Workers

- Health Care Professionals

So, what is Creative Clinical Supervision? It is a collaborative process of education, support, and management of therapists' work, ensuring safe and ethical practice for both the therapist and their clients. This approach integrates play and creativity as fundamental elements of supervision, mimicking the therapeutic space where therapists can express and explore their thoughts using the client's language.

Ultimately, the primary aim of supervision is to facilitate the supervisee’s development and hold them accountable, enhancing their effectiveness as practitioners. It provides an ethical and safe environment where supervisees can reflect on their clinical practice while prioritizing client safety and service quality.