The Jigsaw Team
Fleur (Clinical Administrator)
I came to play therapy via Giggle Doctoring in hospitals. It was there that I witnessed the truly transformational power and impact of play. Now as a therapist, I find being able to support children through difficult times is such a privilege and it’s a real honour to do the work.
Lou
I’m an Accredited Play Therapist and Creative Arts Counsellor for children and young people.
Before I trained as a therapist, I worked for many years supporting vulnerable children and young people in mainstream and specialist settings. My work was very rewarding but I felt driven to find out more about children’s therapies and how I could connect and offer support at a deeper level.
At the heart of my work is an understanding of the importance of developing a trusting therapeutic relationship where children and young people feel safe and accepted.
Mic
I'm an Integrative children's therapist based in London working in primary schools, pupil referral units and private practice. I offer 1 to 1 Creative Arts and Play therapy sessions for children and young people, as well as bespoke parent coaching and Psycho-education sessions for Parents and Carers. My work aims to empower the whole family, to make positive changes within their relationships and environment. My work is offered in a non-judgmental, supportive style to build confidence and encourage positive personal development.
Emma
I am a Play and Creative Arts Therapist. I have worked with children and adolescents for fourteen years and in a therapeutic capacity for four years. I have also worked with parents for many years supporting with parenting, psychoeducation, video interactive guidance and I am now training to be a filial play coach, which supports the development of a positive relationship between parent and child.
Additionally, I really enjoy facilitating life story work with young people, enabling them to understand their past, rewrite their narrative and look forward to their future.
Kate
I’m an experienced integrative child and adolescent therapist working with young people and their parents or carers in primary and secondary schools, youth centres and in private practice, in person and online.
I am passionate about supporting young people; tailoring my broad experience to ensure my clients feel listened to and heard in a non-judgemental way is key to my work. By offering the young person time, space and complete acceptance, they can make sense of their feelings and develop their own coping strategies. In this process I also provide support to families, offering psycho-education and reflection so that we can work together to create a positive environment for support and change.
Jenny
I am an accredited Play Therapist. My interest in Play Therapy came from teaching primary aged children. I often felt helpless when the children I worked with had experienced trauma or were facing challenging situations. I wanted to learn more about how I could support children struggling with difficult experiences and/or emotional difficulties. In my search I discovered Play Therapy. I began training with PTUK in 2015 and this is where my journey from teacher to Play Therapist began!
I have experience of working with children, families and external services in primary schools for over 12 years as a class teacher, forest school leader and as part of an Inclusion team supporting the school SENco and holding the role of Designated LAC teacher. My favourite teaching experiences were when I was out in the Forest School or during times of free play in the early years where I could observe the learning that came through their self directed play.
I am passionate about my therapeutic work and the power of play. I strive to create a safe space for my clients to explore their feelings and support their journey to understanding who they are. I love seeing how children explore the kit and use it in their own individual ways.
Nicki
I’m an Accredited Play and Creative Arts Therapist. I love and thrive on the relationships that we form. My genius is improving the quality of all of our relationships that we have in our lives. I think this has come from my personal perspective of knowing that the connection I had with my children, friends and family had it challenges and evolved over time.
I believe that we all are on a quest in finding our true self, our children as well. We know when things don’t feel right and aligned for us as we face challenges through our life.
My approach to therapy is one of empowerment and exploration, I love to support and provide a safe space for my clients to explore what they need to.
I enjoy and feel privilege to be a part of their journey in discovering and understanding their story in finding their journey to knowing their self.
Claire
I began my career as a registered nurse and went on to specialise in Paediatric Nursing and Health Visiting. I have post-graduate qualifications as an IAPT Parenting Practitioner and Play Therapist. My present work is within a primary school setting and working for MOSAIC and Grief encounter supporting children following bereavement.
I work therapeutically with children either individually or in group settings. I am able to offer Play Therapy and Parenting support.
Kirsten
I’m a creative arts and play therapist based in North Kent.
Before training as a therapist I worked as a learning mentor in primary schools. I found there was an ever-growing need for pastoral support that often eclipsed children’s educational needs. As part of my work I also undertook the role of designated safeguarding lead. This gave me lots of experience working with families and professionals to achieve the best outcomes for children.
These experiences have made me passionate about giving children a voice and providing them with a safe space to discover and develop. I’m calm and open-minded to allow children to express themselves however they choose. I offer group and individual play therapy sessions.
Anthea
I’m a UKCP BACP & PTUK registered Integrative Arts Psychotherapist, Group Analyst, Play therapist and Supervisor. I have worked extensively with children, adolescents, adults, families, couples, and groups for over 15 years in various settings including schools, community projects and within the NHS. I work as a therapist delivering training and consultancy in a range of professional and educational contexts.
I also offer therapeutic services such as self-reflective groups and team supervision both in organisations and within my private practice in South London. I have a special interest in racial trauma, particularly working with racial trauma in the body.
Liz
I’m an accredited Play Therapist and registered member of PTUK (Play Therapy UK), with seven years’ experience supporting children with emotional and behavioural difficulties. Before I started my journey as a Play Therapist, I was a Montessori teacher for 10 years. Here is where I gained my first insight into the importance of play and how it is one of the best ways to connect and support a child. I feel passionately about the powers of play and how it helps children heal. As a Play Therapist, my philosophy and message when working with children is “support the present to heal the future."
During Play Therapy children are able to work through their difficulties in a safe, trusting and non-judgemental space. It is an absolute honour to be able to provide children the freedom to explore and be themselves. It has been one of the most rewarding roles I have experienced in my career and I look forward to continuing to provide these opportunities for the future generation.
Lauren
I’m a Play and Creative Arts Therapist and am passionate about working with children to put the building blocks in place at an early age to allow them to thrive rather than to survive. From my own personal experience, I believe we all have the inner resource to be our best selves and I can help to provide a safe space in which this can be explored and worked through.
I work using an integrative holistic model of therapy. My aim is to work with the children and their families and carers in a respectful, non-judgemental and supportive way, through which positive change can occur.
Ashleigh
I'm Ashleigh and I am a Certified Play Therapist. I aim to give all of my clients an outlet for their conscious and unconscious emotions, supporting them to understand and develop skills that can be used throughout their life, time to grow at their own pace and the space to become the truest version of themselves in order to reach their potential through the art of play.
I see working holistically extremely beneficial, looking at the whole child and taking an interest in the people around them so we can work together, as a team to see the bigger picture and ultimately making that picture better with the child being the navigator for what that change is for them.
Anne
I’m a Certified Play and Creative Arts therapist, based in Dorset.
I trained as a Primary age teacher and have worked across the primary age range in mainstream and special schools.
Before becoming a full time Play Therapist, I also worked for 9 years as a family support worker, supporting individual families and running parenting programmes; to help support parent-child relationships.
Play is a natural medium for children, it is through child led play they have the opportunity to fully express themselves.
I work with children, using an ’ Integrative Holistic Play Therapy approach.’ This allows them to choose from the mediums in the room and, through metaphor and play, explore the themes that are most pertinent to them, alongside the introduction of more directed interventions when appropriate; enables children to develop a more positive self-concept.
Evelyn
I co-founded the Jigsaw Academy with Julie and I also work as part of the Jigsaw Play Therapy Ltd team. I have been working with children and families since the early 1980s.
I am currently enjoying life as a Play Therapist and trainer in therapy or childcare related topics. I am also an experienced supervisor and work supporting therapists and wider professionals to feel more effective in their role.
Michelle
I’m a certified Play Therapist working in primary schools in the West Kent area. I can offer individuals and small groups of children a safe space, with a focus on building positive relationships using play and creative materials to support their therapeutic journey.
I was a teacher and for over 20 years, which is where my passion and desire to respect, nurture and support children as individuals emerged and eventually led me to training to become a Play Therapist.
I have always championed the importance of play as an early year’s educator. Now as a Play Therapist I’ve also witnessed its potential to help children understand and make sense of what is happening in their world at the same time as allowing them to express and heal themselves.
Freya
I am a certified dramatherapist. Dramatherapy uses the healing aspects of drama and theatre to aid the therapeutic process. It is the combination of working and playing that facilitates creativity, imagination, learning, insight and growth. With over 10 years experience working alongside children, young people and their families, from differing backgrounds, I witnessed the positive effect of using drama based exercises to delve deeper into personal experiences; and my love of dramatherapy grew. Within my sessions, I aim to create a non-judgemental, creative and safe environment for all.
Rebecca
I’m a qualified Play Therapist completing my training with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapists. I am a member of the British Psychological Society and PTUK. I am passionate about the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. Since completion of a psychology Masters in 2010 I have worked nationwide with children, young people and parents involved with Children’s Services for different reasons. My work has allowed me the opportunity to work with people with social communication difficulties, learning needs, experiencing bereavement, alcohol and drug misuse, contact concerns, parental separation, victims and perpetrators of domestic violence, homelessness and mental health difficulties amongst others. I have worked as an Expert Witness completing assessment reports for the family courts as well as a Family Support Worker. As a Play Therapist, I have worked in several schools in different London Boroughs. I have provided over 400 hours of support to children and young people, completed reports on Therapeutic Play and Play Therapy interventions and offered advice and guidance to schools and parents. I have completed both individual and group therapeutic support. I love to learn and develop new skills and constantly strive to develop my skill set to enhance my practice with children, young people and adults.
Karen
I’m a certified Play Therapist based in South East Kent. I work with both individual and groups of children, offering them a safe, nurturing and playful space.
Prior to Play Therapy, I worked as a primary school teacher and a learning support assistant in further education, supporting young people in alternative provision and adults with mental health difficulties. Whilst residing in Australia I wrote and delivered drama workshops to help support the long term unemployed – developing their skills and confidence to enable them to secure work and fulfil their potential.
I believe in the power of Play and in it nurturing the whole person, and I use a holistic, person-centred approach in my work with a good sprinkling of the creative arts!
In addition to Play Therapy, I am also a Licensed Parent and Child Attachment Practitioner, I work with the carer and support them in learning play skills they can use with their child, helping them to build stronger bonds and positive relationships.
Mandy
I’m a certified Play and Creative Arts Therapist, trained and registered with PTUK. I have enjoyed many years of working with children and families in various job roles including teaching. As a student teacher in the 1970s I was asked to work with a community project that helped me to begin to understand how children’s early development and familial attachments could sometimes cause them to struggle in school and elsewhere. After many years of experience working in special educational settings and supportive roles, I began my Play Therapy journey in 2003. PTUK introduced me to the amazing power of play therapy to enable children and young people to process adverse events and experiences that had interrupted their own life journeys. Through the language of play, within the boundaries of a safe, therapeutic relationship, children can heal from emotional trauma. What a privilege to be part of that!
In recent years I have been learning about therapeutic parenting and supporting parents as well as children, seeking to improve relationships within families of all kinds. Working in a residential children’s home deepened my awareness of the importance of loving care and support for all children, helping them to develop the skills to become adults who are able to lead fulfilling lives and become the parents their own children need.
Natasha
I’d first like to introduce myself as a mother of two. I studied Psychology at the University of London and I’m now a qualified Play and Creative Arts Therapist.
I have a number of years of experience working with children and their families. I provide one to one and group therapy, offering emotional support to children and young people.
I work in a non-directive, integrative and holistic way. I’m experienced in working therapeutically with families to promote child development as well as improving parent and child relationships.
Nikki
I’m a student counsellor and I’m passionate about the person-centred approach. I firmly believe we can benefit from understanding ourselves better and being empowered to reach resolutions.
My background is in education and supporting young people and families to navigate difficult circumstances. I understand that as a parent it can be a daunting world as we seek to support our children to flourish and develop independence.
I aim to offer a safe and welcoming environment where you can be yourself, free from judgement and believe that this true authenticity can be the start of a positive journey.
Alanna
I’m a qualified Play and Creative Arts Therapist based in South West London. I’m passionate about supporting children’s social and emotional needs. I’ve supported many children to explore and manage difficult emotions, traumatic experiences and to develop skills and confidence which help them to be more successful at school and in life.
I believe Play Therapy can empower children to move forwards and heal. I love my work as a Play Therapist and I have been fortunate to work with so many schools and families. I continue to be amazed by the resilience, strength and courage of the children I work with.
Elaine
I began training with PTUK in 2017 as I wanted to develop my work with children and more broadly, families, within a more direct and healing model. For many years I worked with children and families in a variety of roles, each one adding to my connection and experience in a different way.
For me, I gain so much joy from seeing children unravel complicated and difficult challenges and go on to create a definitive idea of what they would like to have in their world.
My approach is very much child-led and attachment-based. The role of Play Therapist can involve being a mediator and advocate for the children we work with to ensure their voice is heard and listened to. Working in collaboration with a child's family and school is key and I have developed strong skills in partnership development. Further to training as a Play Therapist, I am also an accredited Parent & Child Attachment through Play practitioner and have substantial safeguarding experience both as a practitioner and trainer.
Susan
I’m a counsellor in training, currently in my 4th year. I have an interest in psychodynamic counselling theory as well as person-centred so decided to complete my studies on an integrative course .
My background is in education, firstly as a teacher and currently as a SENCo (special educational needs co-ordinator). Increasingly my time has been spent supporting children’s social and emotional needs in order to help them to be emotionally available to learn. As well as supporting children I have also been involved in supporting parents and teachers. This has led me to an increased interest in adults well-being so I decided to embark on the diploma to become a counsellor.
I provide a non-judgmental and safe space for you to explore your thoughts and feelings. I work in an integrative way to support you in the way that is best for you to make some sense of what's going on at a pace that is right for you. Often thoughts and feelings are sub-conscious and bringing them into your awareness can give you clarity about your personality, behaviours, relationships as well as your goals.
Natalie
I’m a certified play therapist, gaining my Diploma with APAC in June 2022. I’m based in Sussex and offer individual and group sessions. My interest has always been in the emotional well-being of children, with a keen focus on attachment and trauma.
Throughout my career as a play therapist and, before that as a social worker. I’ve developed a strong belief in the power of play and relationships to help young people to safely explore and understand their own experiences and develop healthy strategies to cope with the challenges they face.
Abigail
I’m a certified Therapeutic Play Practitioner based in Kent and I’m also a mother of one.
I have an academic background in Early Childhood Studies and have previously worked with children and their families at messy play groups, and in schools.
Mental health is something I have always been passionate about and whilst studying for my degree, I became fascinated with the power of play and its healing properties for young children. Through therapeutic play I am able to provide children with a safe and nurturing environment in which they can feel empowered. I feel so privileged to be a part of their journey and to work alongside and support both parents and their families.
Ali
I’m a Certified Play Therapist based in Kent. I work with both individuals and groups of children and young people, using an integrative, holistic, person centred approach to therapy. I tailor my approach based on the principle that all clients are unique and therefore they all need an approach which is tailored to support their specific needs.
Before training as a therapist, I was a Primary school teacher for 14 years, Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo), for a further 7 years and a Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL). As part of my work, I gained experience working with children who are looked after by the Local Authority and liaising with Children’s Services.
As a Play Therapist I feel privileged to work with children and young people, both within Mainstream and Specialist provisions. My aim is to build respectful, trusting and non-judgemental relationships, as a foundation to allow positive change to occur.
Alex
I’m a certified play therapist holding professional membership with PTUK and BACP. I began training as a play therapist in 2016, qualifying at diploma level in 2019. In 2021 I was very fortunate to obtain a government-funded scholarship in partnership with the Metanoia Institute to undertake additional clinical training in systemic family practice. During this training I worked in a large secondary school in West London as part of Metanoia’s “Here 4 You” school counselling service.
I got my second postgraduate qualifications in CYP IAPT Therapy (Systemic Family Practice) in September 2022 from King’s College London. As such, I am qualified to offer systemic family interventions for depression, self-harm and conduct disorders. I have completed in excess of 700 play therapy sessions and 80 systemic family sessions. My systemic thinking has highly influenced my play therapy practice and I believe that this adds an additional nuance to what I am able to offer as a play therapist.
My first degree and career is in primary education and I continue to teach part-time as a class teacher at an infant school. I very much love the “doing with” of teaching and the “being with” of my clinical with children and young people.
I firmly believe in the transformative nature of play therapy as a safe and effective intervention. Above all, I have a deep respect for the children and young people that I work with and their abundant capacity for growth.
Shafinaz
I’m a Play and Creative Arts Therapist and an AutPlay Therapist (Neurodiversity Affirming Therapist) .Special needs is an area close to my heart, but I have experience in working with children with an array of social and emotional needs for over 10 years in a primary school setting.
Play Therapy found me while I was looking for support for my son, a moment where I felt helpless as a mother and could not explain what was wrong but really needed someone to help my child to feel happier, safer, and provide a sense of belonging.
Once I was introduced in to Play Therapy, I became curious about learning more about how this could help more children heal and finally chose this as my career.
Being a therapist, everyday feels like an honour when a child allows me into their world. Watching children heal and families thrive is the greatest reward I get in my work.
Diane
I’m a Certified Play Therapist based in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire and within close proximity to Wakefield and Barnsley. I have been working therapeutically with children, young people and their families/carers for over 20 years and feel very fortunate to have observed many of my clients reaching their full potential.
I have a great deal of experience in working with children/young people that have social, emotional and behavioural difficulties and also children/young people that have more complex and challenging conditions that affect their everyday lives.
I use an “Integrative, Holistic, and Child Centred Approach” that is validated by PTUK (Play Therapy UK) in its clinical evidence base. This model incorporates using directive and non-directive approaches alongside the Play Therapy toolkit and the child’s/young persons natural medium of play in which new coping strategies are developed in dealing with their life experiences/emotional regulation in a more appropriate way.
My approach is a very relaxed one that incorporates all of the necessary limitations/boundaries & structure needed within a play room in creating a safe and consistent environment in which trust can be built within the Play Therapist/client relationship. Every child has potential and to be part of helping them to unlock it is something I feel very passionate about.
Lara
With a background in Primary Education and a deep passion for children’s mental health, I am dedicated to making a difference in young lives. As a Play Therapist, with special interest in neurodivergence, I am committed to supporting each individual child’s needs. My approach focuses on building safe, caring relationships with each child, enabling them to express their feelings, overcome challenges, and develop emotional resilience through the power of play.
Jo
I’m an Accredited Play Therapist, Certified Play and Creative Arts Counsellor for children and young people, and a Trainee Clinical Supervisor.
I work with both children and adolescents in groups and on a 1:1 basis.
I have a personal and professional interest and understanding of autism. Prior to starting my play therapy journey, I worked for eleven years with children and adolescents as a teaching assistant specialising in autism.
My approach focuses on building an authentic, trusting and non-judgemental relationship with each child and young person where they can feel accepted and safe.
I passionately believe that through Play and the Creative Arts, young people can gain an understanding of self and be empowered to fulfil their full potential in all aspects of their lives. I feel immensely proud and privileged to be part of the play therapy profession
Amber
I’m a Play and Creative Arts Therapist based in South East Kent. Prior to gaining my qualification as a therapist with the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy, I completed my degree in Early Childhood Studies with SEN specialism.
I believe in being a champion for children and supporting them to work through the difficulties they may face or have faced in their lives.
I have a real passion for all things arts, crafts and play and truly believe in the power that this has in helping children heal.
I feel privileged to work with children and young people during difficult times and strive to achieve a relationship built on trust and respect , so that they may develop emotional resilience and feel empowered to tackle challenges that they may encounter.
Denise
I’m a certified Play Therapist and registered member of PTUK based in Bexley. I am passionate about supporting vulnerable children/ young people with their emotional and mental health needs through the transformative power of play therapy.
Play is the child’s language and allows the child to explore their thoughts and feelings without having to use words to articulate themselves. Before I started my journey as a play therapist, I worked for 15 years in a specialist setting with children/young people with social, emotional, behavioural and mental health difficulties. I then worked for several years supporting children/young people in a mainstream primary school and have worked therapeutically with children/young people since 2020.
I am passionate about providing children/young people with a therapeutic, safe and non-judgemental space to allow them to explore and work through difficult situations and experiences and support them in expressing and understanding their emotions. As a play therapist I feel very honoured working alongside a child/young person as they begin their journey of growth and self-discovery. I have experience of delivering both individual and group play therapy sessions and have worked with siblings and children/ young people with challenging behaviours and traumatic experiences.
Contact us.
If you would like to speak to someone from Jigsaw in more detail about therapy, other areas of work or how we can support you then please complete the contact form or please email admin@jigsawplaytherapy.com