News & Reviews

If you’re looking to stay informed about play therapy, then you’ve come to the right place. I provide a variety of resources for your reading and learning pleasure, covering a broad range of subjects in the field. Browse through the resources below, and get in touch with any questions or requests you may have.

Resources

How to help your anxious child

Using different breathing techniques can really help your child when they are feeling anxious to alleviate symptons of stress and to calm down. The below link shows how you can help your child use their breathing to reduce anxiety.

Teaching Your Anxious Child to Calm Themselves with Their Breath (anxietyfreechild.com)

Checking in with your heart, body and mind.

It is important as parents to check in with your heart, body and mind. Providing your children with a opportunity to do so regularly is equally as important. There are lots of fun activities listed below to keep your children engaged, and activities that the family can do together

https://www.barnardos.ie/resources/heart-body-and-mind/

Addressing your child's negative self talk.

It is very upsetting as a parent to hear your child putting themselves down. Often this is associated with low self-esteem. The below link shares helpful strategies to respond to this negative self-talk and help your child's confidence grow. https://biglifejournal.com/blogs/blog/negative-self-talk-child-says-dumb-stupid

https://www.psychologytoday.com/ie/blog/zero-six/202204/why-kids-engage-in-negative-self-talk-and-what-you-can-do

Anger and my child

The majoirty of children will have occassional outbursts or tantrums. Knowing the difference between typical behaviour and emotional outbursts that are concerning can be difficult. The below link will help parents to differentiate between both.

https://childmind.org/article/is-my-childs-anger-normal/

Reviews

Tanya Hamilton recommends Creative Steps Play Therapy

Katie is lovely. My little girl went to Katie for play therapy as she refused to speak to people including other children in her class and really was afraid and anxious to speak. Even going to school caused her anxiety and she didn't want to go. But she really grew in confidence and started to speak to her classmates, whispering at first and then gradually talking to them as we progressed through play therapy with Katie. She's much more confident now. We highly recommend Creative Steps Play Therapy.