The Play Pod

The Play Pod The Play Pod is a mobile therapeutic service in Worcestershire for Play Therapy.

The name combines "play" as a natural way for children to express themselves and "pod" for a safe, contained space to grow and heal

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY! A different share from me this weekend! A fellow Play Therapist shared this yesterday and it...
15/11/2025

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY!

A different share from me this weekend!

A fellow Play Therapist shared this yesterday and it sooo rings true!

It made me think....

Take note of what pulls us in!

🎢 Nostalgia from a boy band - reliving our youth
🎭 Going to the theatre - reliving a core memory
πŸ‘ƒ A smell or a scent - brings back a sense

When we can STOP and be in the moment and see what SHOWS up is super powerful and insightful.

W IS FOR WHAT! The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy  yet again providing such a great resource! WHAT to say ...
11/11/2025

W IS FOR WHAT!

The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy yet again providing such a great resource!

WHAT to say when a child is dysregulated.

❀️ Minimal words to start
πŸ’œ Slow our breathing
πŸ’› Relaxed body language
🩡 Understanding this will all pass

https://www.facebook.com/share/1BmmnM9dMY/

During a meltdown, the goal is not to 'fix' or 'stop' the behaviour.
The goal is to help the nervous system return to safety.

What we say β€” and how we say it β€” makes a profound difference.

When a child is overwhelmed, the thinking parts of the brain are offline.
They can’t reason, respond, or problem-solve yet.
They need co-regulation, not correction.

This post offers phrases you can use at each stage of the meltdown cycle β€” not to control the moment, but to support safety, connection, and repair.

Because when a child learns:
β€œI can have big feelings and still be safe with you,”
they develop emotional resilience, trust, and self-understanding.

If you found this helpful and would like a deeper breakdown of each phase (with step-by-step support strategies), you’ll find the full Timeline of a Meltdown resource via link in comments below ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in Bio.

Save this to come back to when things feel overwhelming

B IS FOR BRAIN! I have recently come across The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy and they have a wealth of r...
10/11/2025

B IS FOR BRAIN!

I have recently come across The Contented Child, Child Wellbeing Consultancy and they have a wealth of resources and visuals that really support some understanding towards brain development and different ages of childhood.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Jp9dhYhS1/

This one in particular really highlights a young person brain and gives comfort when their behaviour shows up!

Take a look πŸ‘€

The adolescent brain is still under construction.
The emotional centres of the brain mature earlier, while the parts responsible for reasoning, planning, and self-regulation continue developing into the mid-20s.

This is why young people may feel things more intensely, respond quickly, or struggle to pause in the moment β€” especially when overwhelmed.
This is development, not defiance.

For neurodivergent young people, these differences can be even more pronounced.
Sensory processing, emotional intensity, and social fatigue can all shape how feelings show up and how support is needed.
Their brains are not behind β€” they are building pathways differently.

When we understand the brain, we can meet young people with connection, patience, and co-regulation, rather than correction or criticism.
This is how emotional regulation skills grow over time.

Explore The Child Brain Explained Toolkit for practical guidance to help parents and educators support emotional regulation in real-world moments. Link in comments ⬇️ or via Linktree Shop in bio.

B IS FOR BULLYING! This week up and down the UK schools will be implementing Anti Bullying Week, a subject very close to...
10/11/2025

B IS FOR BULLYING!

This week up and down the UK schools will be implementing Anti Bullying Week, a subject very close to my heart ❀️

For the last 10 plus years I would be advocating and planning activities for this special week with staff, parents and pupils but now this sits a little differently.

Great, we have a week dedicated to Anti Bullying but it shouldn't be a stand alone one week that's done and dusted and forgotten about.

Bullying happens. In schools, at home and sadly even in the workplace.

If we as individuals can be on the look out for bullying whether that be at home, school or where we work we really can make a difference.

Don't be a BYstander, be an UPstander

Don't Stand by, STAND UP!

and finally....

DON'T LET ANYONE DEFINE WHO YOU ARE

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY! https://www.instagram.com/playtherapistwithcurls?igsh=cm03d3A0cTJwcHJrI've been exploring wa...
08/11/2025

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY!

https://www.instagram.com/playtherapistwithcurls?igsh=cm03d3A0cTJwcHJr

I've been exploring ways to utilise the sand this week and a fellow Play Therapist mentioned this page to me I've not heard before.

A real wealth of knowledge, ideas and expertise!

Have a look πŸ‘€

2,435 Followers, 2,344 Following, 274 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Stephanie | Registered Play Therapist & EMDR Trained ()

04/11/2025

G IS FOR GIFT!

A different post from me today.

I stumbled across the John Lewis Christmas advert this year.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GDz8vbdSz/

Something really hit home...

If you can't find the words...
Find the GIFT ❀️

This resonates SO much in Play Therapy and more recently in my counselling training especially with older clients as in the video.

Sometimes words are not needed in the space.

The GIFT of art, dance, drama, music and many more is what is needed when words do not come.

It really feels like

04/11/2025

V IS FOR VOLCANO!

Another great resource from Child Bereavement UK exploring the emotion ANGER through the visual of a VOLCANO πŸŒ‹.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/17MH76LoF9/

Definitely worth a look πŸ‘€

C IS FOR COLLAGE! On Sunday evening I spent the most glorious few hours at a Symbolic Stories workshop hosted by the Art...
28/10/2025

C IS FOR COLLAGE!

On Sunday evening I spent the most glorious few hours at a Symbolic Stories workshop hosted by the Artists Clubhouse.

It was a real chance to give myself permission to hush the external noise and explore the world of art through collage and imagery.

No preconceived idea just freedom to create a piece that spoke to me.

Here is the final piece! Still unpicking the symbols as there were a lot!

It got me thinking about using collage in the therapeutic space and a range of magazines, tissue for background could be used to explore many therapeutic themes!

27/10/2025

A IS FOR ACTIVITY!

A brilliant activity I found myself doing recently to find out what motivates me. This idea has come from the book I mentioned previously, The Elephant in the ADHD room...just brilliant!

1. Write down top 10 joys in your life, what brought you joy or greatest satisfaction?
2. Jot down why they brought you joy?
3. Look at these and explore themes between the motivations of each.

Here is a list of what I found out what motivates me the most:
❀️ Pride/achieving
🩡 Connection
πŸ’œ Adventure and new experiences
πŸ’š Being acknowledged
πŸ’™ Caring for others
πŸ’› Luxuries within self care
🧑 Independence

Knowing this knowledge now I can then see what my true beliefs and values system are and see if what I experience in my life can be applied to my Elements of Interest which are noted above. These will obviously change based on what brings me joy.

Have a go!

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY! Thanks to Mandy Haller a fantastic book recommendation! This is one of these books where I w...
25/10/2025

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY!

Thanks to Mandy Haller a fantastic book recommendation! This is one of these books where I wish I had known about right at the start of my time working with clients and children in education with ADHD.

Exploring the theme of boredom and SO much of the book just makes sense!

I am only 4 chapters in and already the practical insight and activities you can do are just utterly mind blowing!

Think Elements of Interest, Boredom scale and what brings you joy and happiness!?

Definitely worth a look ...

https://uk.jkp.com/products/the-elephant-in-the-adhd-room #:~:text=This%20well%20written%20book%20by,suggestions%20are%20moderate%20and%20reasonable

Boredom and boredom avoidance drive the behaviours of inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity – the diagnostic criteria of ADHD. This is the first ADHD resource to thoroughly explore the connection between the two.Full of innovative approaches, the book introduces a wide range of strategies fo...

R IS FOR RESOURCES! I brought these bottle sticky shapes to be used for flower pressing in the summer!Instead they have ...
23/10/2025

R IS FOR RESOURCES!

I brought these bottle sticky shapes to be used for flower pressing in the summer!

Instead they have ended up in my toolkit and a real hit with the older age clients.

Themes that can be explored
🩷 Memory bottles
πŸ’œ Jars of joy- moments that have brought happiness
🩡 Exploring themes of mixed feelings
❀️ Making potions and spells linked to clients themes
.. And I'm sure a lot more!

P IS FOR PRODUCT! Some of you may know that my mum had an operation two weeks ago and to support her recovery she took i...
22/10/2025

P IS FOR PRODUCT!

Some of you may know that my mum had an operation two weeks ago and to support her recovery she took it upon herself to knit x 4 emotion balls bags!

Three of which are now ready!

Please let me know if you would like one!

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Worcester

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