For Children

Birdhouse Therapies offers Play and Creative Arts Therapy, and AutPlay® Therapy for children aged 3 years and above.

My mission is to offer a ‘safe nest for children to grow their wings’ for children who are having difficulties mentally, emotionally, socially or behaviourally that are holding them back from reaching their potential.

I have extensive experience working with neurodivergent children and I am a neurodivergent affirming therapist.

Birdhouse Therapies offers play and creative therapy in a safe, bright, child-friendly room that is equipped to help your child feel safe, explore their feelings and difficulties and heal themselves.

What Your Child May Be Experiencing

Anxiety, aggression, autistic burnout, difficulties arising from bereavement, depression, attachment difficulties, abuse and trauma, grief, loss, communication difficulties, self-hate, meltdowns, masking, suicidal ideation, self-harm, family breakdown, low self-esteem, separation anxiety, disturbed sleep and underperformance academically or socially.

Play Therapy

How often have you asked your child how they are, and they answer, ‘don’t know’ or what they did at school today to be told, ‘nothing!’? ‘Don’t know’ and ‘nothing’ can mean a multitude of things for which your child has no words, as for children play is their natural way of communication rather than words.

Play therapy is a non-directive approach which makes use of a toolkit to enable each child to explore and express themselves and their difficulties in a safe, contained space with a therapist who is separate from home and school.

In a play therapy session each child has autonomy in choosing how they want to play and express themselves.

I will watch, tune in, mirror, reflect back feelings and share in the experience as the child takes me on a journey and shares their story.

Through the metaphor of play a child can experience, explore, feel, control and try out new ways of being and behaving.

Creative Art Therapy

Creative art therapy uses the same toolkit. The child leads the way initially in the sessions choosing how they want to play. As our relationship develops I may respond in a more directive manner while remaining within the world of play. I may offer a suggestion or an activity that enables a child to explore a particular issue further.

Creative media and activities are used as a way of engaging the child and enabling the child to tell their story and will differ according to an individual child’s age, abilities and needs. The creative arts toolkit can be used in a variety of ways to enable children to achieve their goals which may be:

  • To gain mastery over issues and events
  • To be powerful through physical expression
  • To express emotions
  • To develop problem-solving and decision-making skills
  • To develop social skills
  • To build self-image and self-esteem
  • To improve communication skills
  • To develop insight

AutPlay® Therapy

AutPlay® Therapy was created by Dr. Robert Jason Grant. It is a neurodiversity affirming framework for implementing play therapy. AutPlay® Therapy integrates psychological theory, family therapy, behavioural therapy and play therapy. Parents and children are valued and understood as partners in the therapy process with the therapist.

The AutPlay framework is neurodiversity paradigm informed and designed to address the mental health needs of neurodivergent children ages 3-18 (autistic children, those with ADHD, social anxiety, sensory differences, learning differences, highly sensitive, and developmental and physical disabilities).

Play and Creative Arts Toolkit

The toolkit comprises a number of creative media to encourage children to express themselves through play. Clay, art, puppets, sand, dressing-up, music, therapeutic story-telling, games, feelings cards and role-play are used to help children express their feelings and explore them in a way that feels natural and developmentally appropriate.

What to Expect?

I will meet with you for an initial assessment so that you can get a sense of who I am, see the playroom and ask me any questions you might have.

I will ask you some questions about your family history, your child and the nature/duration of their difficulties. It may be, after talking with each other, that you go away reassured that your child’s behaviour is developmentally appropriate and that no further help is needed.

If we both agree that therapy may be of benefit, we will consider which therapy will best meet the needs of your child. I will then meet with both you and your child so that your child can see the playroom, meet me and see whether they might like to come back.

I offer an initial block of twelve sessions, each session being 40 or 50 minutes (depending on age), with regular reviews to discuss progress. It may be that twelve sessions is sufficient or we may arrange another block of sessions, or long-term therapy if needed.

Fees

  • Initial telephone consultation Free
  • Initial consultation with parents/carers: £80

    60 minutes

  • Play and Creative Arts Therapy £75

    40 minute session (ages 3-12 years)

  • Play and Creative Arts Therapy £80

    50 minute session (ages 13+)

  • AutPlay Therapy £80

    50 minute session

  • Review consultation with parents/carers: £80

    60 minutes

  • Review consultation with parents/carers: £40

    30 minutes

If we agree it is in your child’s best interest that sessions take place at your child’s school then these fees will be discussed at the initial consultation. Fees will be dependent on the distance of the school and the time taken to set up and clear away on site.

I am happy to accept payment either in cash or by bank transfer, either weekly or as a block booking (in advance).

Please note I am not registered with any private health insurance providers.

Contact Me