“Also I would like to thank Samantha Martin for the sessions of support I have completed, I wasn't sure what to expect but feel everything went in a comfortable and relaxed manor.” Parent
‘Sam is really good at what she does’ Children's Bereavement Centre client
“The sessions are really helping. I can already see a difference. He’s so much calmer. He seems to have lost the aggression. He’s now started singing again which he hasn’t done for months Thank you so much.” Parent
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Creative play in counselling is like a magic portal for kids—it offers a creative outlet for expression, helping them articulate feelings and thoughts they might not have words for. It boosts their self-esteem as they see their creations come to life and serves as a gentle way to address and process emotions.
Plus, it's fun and engaging, which can make the therapeutic process feel less intimidating. Crafting, for example, provides a tangible sense of achievement and helps in building fine motor skills, too.
Research has shown that play therapy is effective for children facing a variety of challenges, such as stress from family crises, violence, academic or social problems, grief, anxiety, and learning disabilities.
A review of 52 studies found that child-centred play therapy had a moderate treatment effect (Bratton, 2015), helping children improve emotionally and behaviourally. This highlights the value of play therapy in supporting children's mental health and development.
Research supports the use of person-centred counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) in children's counselling. Studies have shown that person-centred approaches, which emphasise empathy and unconditional positive regard, help children feel understood and valued, leading to improved self-esteem and emotional well-being.
Additionally, CBT has been found to be effective in treating a range of mental health problems in children, such as anxiety and depression, by helping them develop practical coping skills and change negative thought patterns. Combining these approaches can provide a comprehensive and effective therapeutic experience for children.
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Life as a teenager can be a whirlwind of emotions, changes, and challenges. Counselling can offer a supportive space for teens to talk about what they're going through, whether it's stress from school, relationship issues, or figuring out their identity.
I provide a judgment-free zone where they can express themselves openly and learn coping strategies. Together, we can work on building self-esteem, managing emotions, and developing healthier ways to deal with life's ups and downs. Whether they need a sounding board or tools to navigate their journey, I'm here to help.
Negative Automatic Thoughts, or NATs, can be thoughts and feelings which pop into our heads without conscious effort.
This is where CBT techniques can help, by supporting the client to become 'conscious' of these thoughts, we can challenge them, offering new, more positive ideas to consider.
Lin, Y.-W., & Bratton, S. C. (2015). A meta-analytic review of child-centered play therapy approaches. Journal of Counseling & Development, 93(1), 45-58. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2015.00180.x
Moss, L., & Hamlet, H. S. (2020). An Introduction to Child-Centered Play Therapy. Person-Centered Journal, 25(2), 91-103. An Introduction to Child-Centered Play Therapy - ADPCA