Emma’s approach and specialisms

Emma's approach is child-centred, creative and relational. Rather than expecting children to sit and explain how they feel, she uses play and creativity to give them ways of expressing and processing experiences that may be difficult to communicate through words.

With younger children, Emma primarily uses non-directive Play Therapy. Children can use toys, creative arts, movement and sand play to explore their inner world at their own pace. Emma provides a safe and containing therapeutic relationship, reflecting and holding the feelings that emerge while allowing the child to lead the process.

With young people, Emma offers Relational Creative Therapy. Sessions can involve creative activities, talking, or a combination of the two depending on how the young person feels most comfortable communicating.

Emma offers in-person therapy at our clinic in Blackheath Village, conveniently located opposite Blackheath station and easily accessible from Lewisham, Greenwich and across South East London.

Play Therapy

Children do not always have the words to explain what is troubling them. Play Therapy gives them another language through which they can communicate and make sense of their experiences.

Emma uses non-directive Play Therapy, allowing the child to choose how they use toys, art materials, movement and sand within the therapeutic space. There is no pressure to talk about difficult experiences or answer questions before they are ready.

Through play, children can express emotions, explore experiences and begin to process what has happened to them within a safe therapeutic relationship. Emma reflects and holds the emotions that emerge, helping children develop greater emotional understanding while supporting confidence, resilience and self-esteem.

Neurodivergent Children

Emma has particular experience working therapeutically with neurodivergent children. She is a registered AutPlay Therapy provider, a neuro-affirming framework designed specifically to support the mental health needs of neurodivergent children and young people aged 3–18.

She works with autistic children and those with ADHD, sensory differences, learning differences and other developmental needs. Her approach does not aim to make a neurodivergent child behave or communicate in a more neurotypical way. Therapy is adapted to the individual child's communication, sensory and developmental needs.

Emma's combination of Play Therapy, AutPlay and an educational background allows her to consider both the child's emotional world and the environments they are navigating at home and in education.

Parent and Child Attachment Work

Emma is a licensed Parent and Child Attachment Play (PCAP) practitioner and works directly with parents to help strengthen their relationship with their child through play.

Rather than Emma providing therapy to the child separately, PCAP teaches parents therapeutic play skills that they can use themselves. The work supports connection and emotional safety within the parent-child relationship while helping parents develop a deeper understanding of how their child communicates through play.

This can help strengthen attachment, confidence and resilience while also creating opportunities for parents and children to enjoy being together.

Emma usually works with one parent and their child at a time, as recommended within the PCAP model, although she can work with both parents where appropriate. PCAP can also be delivered in a group format.

Trauma, Domestic Abuse and Safeguarding

Emma has significant experience working with children who have experienced domestic abuse and with children who are subject to child protection plans. She has also undertaken specialist training in early developmental trauma.

Play and creative therapy can be particularly valuable where a child has experienced something they cannot easily understand or describe. Rather than requiring the child to give a verbal account of what has happened, therapy allows experiences and emotions to emerge through play and creativity at a pace the child can manage.

Emma's experience extends beyond the therapy room. She has worked alongside the wider professional systems supporting vulnerable children and has provided supervision to teachers, SENCOs, Designated Safeguarding Leads and child-protection professionals.

She also provides support around early developmental trauma for foster carers and adoptive parents, helping caregivers understand how early experiences can influence a child's emotions, relationships and behaviour.

Anxiety, Anger and Emotional Regulation

Emma works with children experiencing anxiety, stress, anger and difficulties managing strong emotions. Rather than viewing the behaviour alone as the problem, Play Therapy creates space to explore what the child may be communicating through their emotions and behaviour.

For younger children, play provides a developmentally appropriate way to express feelings without needing to explain them verbally. For older children and young people, Emma can combine creative therapeutic work with conversation, allowing them greater choice over how they communicate.

The therapeutic relationship provides a consistent and emotionally safe space in which children and young people can begin to understand their feelings, process difficult experiences and develop greater confidence in managing their emotional world.