Child & Adolescent Therapy

Child therapy involves play, art, clay-field, sandtray and other creative approaches. I view play as the natural means through which children express, communicate and make sense of big, difficult and confusing feelings. When engaging in play and creative activity children are more likely to feel at ease and able to revisit painful memories and emotions without becoming overwhelmed. I can also offer EMDR to children and adolescents when historic traumas and/or painful memories are causing emotional distress in the here-and-now.

Sand tray

Sand tray is a therapeutic approach that allows children/adults to express thoughts, emotions, and experiences through symbolic creation, rather than relying on verbal communication alone. Clients are encouraged to use miniatures, shells, stones and other objects to create scenes in the sand tray that reflect their inner world in a tangible, visual form. This allows the client to externalise their inner turmoil and view it from a new vantage point.

Often this hands-on sensory experience helps clients to process emotions, reframe thoughts, problem solve, resolve conflicts, make sense of difficult experiences and make new decisions. The therapist observes and gently facilitates the client's process, helping them explore meaning and gain insight at their own pace. Sand tray therapy is particularly effective for clients who struggle to articulate feelings, as it offers a nonintrusive way to foster healing, self-expression, and emotional regulation.

Clayfield

Clayfield is a form of expressive therapy using clay and water. It allows children to communicate and process emotions through sensory and symbolic expression rather than words alone. In a safe, nonverbal, and tactile environment, children can explore feelings, experiences, and relationships by molding, shaping, and transforming the clayfield. The medium’s responsiveness helps them externalize inner conflicts, foster emotional regulation, and gain a sense of mastery and control.

The therapist observes and gently guides the child’s interactions with the clay, supporting self-discovery and healing without pressure to verbalize complex emotions. This makes clayfield therapy especially valuable for children who have experienced trauma, anxiety, and those with additional language needs.

Play in the therapy room

Play is the natural language of children, it helps them express feelings, explore experiences, and develop healthier ways of coping. Through activities such as imaginative play, drawing, storytelling, and games, children can communicate thoughts and emotions that may be difficult to articulate verbally. In a safe, supportive environment, the therapist observes and interacts with the child’s play to gain insight into their inner world and gently guide emotional growth and problem-solving. Through play children can work through trauma, grief, anxiety and social challenges while building self-esteem, emotional regulation, and resilience. By engaging in play, children learn to understand themselves and their relationships, fostering healing and positive development through creativity and connection.

Art and other creative activities

In child therapy I use artistic activities such as drawing, painting, collage, sculpting, model-making, imaginative play, role-play and puppets to help children express feelings, explore experiences, and support emotional and psychological growth. Many children find it easier to show their feelings through art and creativity activity as it does not rely solely on verbal communication. Creative activity engages the right brain hemisphere and facilitates connection to emotive memories in a safe and containing way. Engaging in creative processes helps children build confidence, improve emotional regulation, develop problem-solving and communication skills.

Get in touch

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about how therapy works, or to arrange an initial assessment appointment. This enables us to discuss the reasons you are thinking of coming to therapy, whether it could be helpful for you and whether I am the right therapist to help.

It may take time to arrange an initial appointment. If you need to speak to someone urgently, please consider contacting one of the following services:

Newcastle & North Tyneside Crisis Team: 0191 8148899 or the freephone number 0800 652 2863, which is staffed 24/7 by mental health professionals.

The Samaritans: Open 24 hours, seven days a week: Call 116 123 www.samaritans.org

If speaking to someone over the phone does not feel right for you, you can make contact via email to: jo@samaritans.org

Befrienders: Suicide support befrienders.org

IMPORTANT: In an emergency situation please call 999

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