Mixed Emotions Play Therapy

19/12/2025

Mixed Emotions Play Therapy is now closed, and will reopen on Tuesday 6th January.

A heartfelt thank you to all the children and their families I’ve had the privilege of working with this year 🥰 I can’t wait to continue our sessions and also welcome more families in the new year.

08/12/2025

Health & Wellbeing Festival, Aberdeen Beach Ballroom.

I’m delighted to be taking part in the Aberdeen Health and Wellbeing Festival on Saturday 10th January 2026! 🤩 If you’re curious about play therapy- how the process works or how it can support a child in your life- please come and say hello!😊

And behind door 7B we have Mixed Emotions Play Therapy 🤩

Mixed Emotions Play Therapy offers a developmentally appropriate way for children to explore and express their feelings-through play!
Children naturally communicate through play. It’s how they make sense of their experiences, understand relationships and navigate the world around them. Play Therapy builds on this foundation by providing a safe, accepting space where connection and expression come first and healing can gently follow.
Play Therapy is an effective approach for supporting children’s emotional and mental well-being. As the person who knows your child best, we work together to make a meaningful difference for your child and your family. If you’re curious about Play Therapy, wondering if it might be helpful for your child, come and chat with me at the Health and Wellbeing Festival- or get in touch anytime through the website: https://mixedemotionsplaytherapy.co.uk/

01/12/2025

The 1st of December has arrived! While the lead-up to Christmas can be magical, it can also feel overwhelming. For children, this time of year can bring up feelings they can’t quite put into words-and play becomes a safe space to work things out.

Play is the language of children; it’s how they communicate and make sense of the world. As routines change and stress levels increase, we might notice changes in our child’s behaviour such as increased clinginess, dysregulation or quiet withdrawal.

At these times, children need our emotional presence, not perfection. The true gift of Christmas is connection. Children won’t remember every present, but they will remember how it felt to be with you- the warmth, attention and moments you share.

A few minutes of undistracted, attuned play and connection can mean more than anything wrapped under the tree 🥰

25/11/2025

I’m sharing this ‘Introduction to Play Therapy Day’ again for anyone considering training as a Play Therapist or for anyone curious about how children use play to explore, express their emotions and make sense of their experiences 🌱

If you’ve never seen a child express what words can’t quite convey… this might just be for you! 🫵

Interested in training to be a Play Therapist or just curious how children use their sessions to make sense of their life? Register now.

20/11/2025

🤩British Play Therapy Week 2025 🤩

Many children develop coping mechanisms, such as "masking," as a way to navigate their day 🎭😔

Play therapy offers a supportive environment where children can feel safe to express their true selves, allowing their masks to gently fall away☺️

Attuning to the whole person, not their mask. In play therapy, we honour neurodivergent children for who they truly are. By creating sensory-friendly, accepting spaces and following the child’s lead, we invite authenticity, safety and connection. When children no longer need to mask, play becomes a place of freedom, joy and genuine self-expression.

® Consortium of Play Therapy Associations

19/11/2025

🤩British Play Therapy Week 2025🤩

I love this reminder about what it really means to accept and respect each child in the play therapy room 🫶

Adapting non-directive play therapy isn’t about changing the heart of the approach, it’s about creating a safe space where every child, with their own unique way of learning, sensory preferences and stage of development, can truly experience the therapeutic power of play 🙌

Adapting non-directive play therapy to meet the diverse developmental, sensory and educational needs of every child means staying attuned, flexible, and deeply respectful of each child’s unique way of engaging in play.

While the therapeutic approach remains grounded in child-led principles, the therapist’s sensitivity to developmental stages, neurodiversity, communication styles and learning differences ensures that every child can access the power of play in a way that feels safe and meaningful.

By thoughtfully adjusting our environments, pacing and materials without losing the essence of non-directivity we uphold the core belief that every child has the capacity for growth and healing when met where they are.

® International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations

18/11/2025

🤩British Play Therapy Week 2025🤩

At our initial parent meeting we will talk about your child, your family background and any support you’ve had before. It is helpful to know about any assessments or diagnoses, but my focus will be on getting to know the child I meet😊 In play therapy, every child is welcome and valued just as they are👍In time, the sense of acceptance helps ease any anxiety and reduce any defensiveness, allowing the child to explore what matters to them in a way that supports their overall growth 👏

The child is always more than their diagnosis. In play therapy, we meet them exactly where they are with presence, acceptance and playfulness. So their true self can lead the way.

® International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations

17/11/2025

🤩British Play Therapy Week 2025🤩

What better time than now to give a huge SHOUT OUT to all the play therapists out there for the incredible work they share with the children who come to the playroom! 🫶

I am passionate about raising awareness of play therapy- an evidence-informed, developmentally attuned approach that offers children a safe and meaningful way to express themselves.

Many still don’t realise this support exists 🤷‍♀️ so if you’re curious about whether play therapy could be helpful for your child, please get in touch ☺️

As play therapy continues to globalise, it’s crucial for practitioners to understand their role within the broader professional context, recognising how each of us contributes to shaping the field itself.

Every interaction, every moment of attunement and every advocacy effort adds to a growing international dialogue about the power of play to heal, connect and transform.

Together, we are not only supporting individual children and families, but also strengthening the global voice of play therapy as an essential component of mental health care.

® International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations

16/11/2025

🤩 Something NEW IS COMING to Mixed Emotions in 2026! 🤩

INDIVIDUAL PLAY THERAPY sessions are suitable for children from around 4 years of age. Our LITTLE ONES are best supported when their PARENT/CARER joins in with the sessions. I'm thrilled to be offering parent and child sessions for little ones, under 4 years, in early 2026!

This approach NURTURES CONNECTION by supporting ATTUNEMENT and CURIOSITY between PARENT/CARER and their CHILD. Through PLAY, we will explore new ways of being to help STRENGTHEN your connection, build TRUST and develop your child's SENSE OF SELF.

If your are interested in this type of support, please get in touch via the website or send me a message on here and we can arrange an initial call! 😊

03/11/2025

Healing doesn't happen in a straight line, sometimes things get messier before they settle 🫶

During the play therapy process you may notice a 'shift'- your child may suddenly resist sessions, have more challenging behaviours at home or even say “I don’t want to go anymore!” This can feel worrying, but is often a sign of progress 🌱

When children start to explore deep feelings, memories or fears, we call this the “working stage” which can stir up emotions they just don’t know how to manage yet. The 'shifts' can be their way of saying, “This feels hard right now” 😔

Your support between sessions makes a huge difference- patience, routine and reassurance that you are there and that they are safe 🥰

27/10/2025

During the initial intake meeting we talk about the importance of respecting the child's pace, recognising that each child has their own unique rhythm and way of being. By following the child’s lead, we show that their feelings and needs are respected. This approach creates a safe and trusting environment, laying the foundations for the creation of a therapeutic relationship 😊

In Play Therapy, we understand that meaningful change unfolds gradually, within the safety of a consistent and trusting therapeutic relationship.

Children need to go at their own pace. When we follow the child, we honour their readiness and create the safety they need to explore their inner world. Going at the child’s pace allows them to process experiences — including trauma — while maintaining a safe psychological distance.

Real growth doesn’t happen under pressure; it happens when a child feels safe enough to take small, manageable steps towards healing.

A Play Therapist’s role is to hold space, to wait, and to trust the process. 🌿

20/10/2025

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Thanks so much- I cant wait to speak with you!