How I Work
My intention when I work with children and young people is how can I help this child? How can I help to alleviate their pain, confusion or trauma? How can I help this child give expression and a voice to what is troubling them? How can I help them move through life with confidence, strength and well being. My aim is to be alongside them in their world. How does their world looks, feel and sound from their frame of reference. What is their story? How can I help them reach their potential and celebrate their individuality.
I am dual trained in play therapy and counselling. Therefore I am able to work with traditional methods of a talking therapy working cognitively whilst also honouring children/young people’s natural language of play and creativity. I work within the ethical framework of the BACP (British association of counselling and psychotherapists) and PTUK (Play Therapy United Kingdom).
I offer a confidential and non-judgmental service using counselling reflective techniques whilst working creatively using the mediums of paint, clay, puppets, sand trays, therapeutic story- telling, music, dance and movement and creative visualisation. Children and young people can sometimes feel stuck or they can suppress their feelings. The arts allow a child/young person an outlet to express their feelings. When feelings are understood and expressed change and growth can happen and allow a new sense of self to emerge.
I am north -west based and I work in schools, GP surgery’s and in my own private settings based in Liverpool. I am also willing to travel to client’s homes and this is by specific arrangement only. I accept referrals from parents, schools, GP services, agencies and children’s centres. As well as one to one work, I also work with groups of children and young people. Group work can be very powerful. It can help to facilitate communication, peer relations and a sense of belonging and understanding. Groups can involve siblings, peers and parents.
I also work in co ordination with schools to set up a service that suit the needs of the school and the children, please see the separate section on this.