Play & Creative Arts Therapy for Children

A safe, supportive space where children and young people can explore their feelings through play, creativity and connection, helping them understand themselves and navigate life's challenges

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Welcome

Hello, I'm Gillian

I'm a qualified and experienced children's psychotherapist, providing play and creative arts therapy for children and young people across Leeds, Bradford, Harrogate, Bingley, Skipton, and further afield.

As a play therapist, I am warm, friendly and approachable and my aim is to help children understand their emotions, build resilience, and feel safe to express themselves.

About the therapist

My Approach

Every child is unique, so no two therapy sessions are the same.

I work in an integrative, child-led way, drawing on my understanding of child development, attachment, neuroscience, and a range of therapeutic approaches to meet each child where they are. I carefully respond to each child's individual needs, interests, strengths, and pace.

Children naturally communicate through play, creativity, movement, stories, and imagination. By following their lead within the safety of the therapeutic relationship, I help them explore their thoughts and feelings, process experiences, and develop healthy ways of coping.

Therapy may include play, art, sand tray, storytelling, games, sensory resources, creative activities, mindfulness, and therapeutic conversation, depending on what feels most clinically appropriate and comfortable for each child.

Children and young people come to therapy for many different reasons.

Play & Creative Arts Therapy may help with:

Anxiety and worries
Anger and emotional regulation
Bereavement and loss
Family separation or change
Low confidence and self-esteem
Friendship and relationship difficulties
School worries
Trauma or difficult life experiences
Adoption and attachment needs
Emotional overwhelm
Understanding and expressing feelings

If you're unsure whether therapy is right for your child, I'm always happy to have an informal conversation.

When Might Therapy Be Helpful?

Play Therapy

Play therapy provides a safe, child-centred space where children can explore thoughts, feelings, and experiences through play, creativity, and imagination.

Children often communicate through play before words. Sessions may include sand tray, art, storytelling, games, sensory activities, and creative exploration.

Play therapy can support anxiety, big emotions, self-esteem, trauma, loss, family change, and emotional regulation. Parent reviews support progress and offer guidance at home.

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Creative Arts Therapy

Creative therapy offers a flexible approach for older children and young people who may benefit from more than talking therapy. Sessions combine creativity, conversation, and therapeutic strategies to support emotional understanding, confidence, self-expression, and coping skills.
It can support anxiety, low self-esteem, identity, emotional regulation, family change, and life transitions. Parents are kept involved through regular check-ins while respecting the young persons independence.

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Relationship Focussed Sessions

Relationship-focused sessions support children and caregivers to strengthen connection, build trust, and improve communication. Drawing on the principles of DDP, sessions use the PACE approach—Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, and Empathy—alongside creativity and therapeutic activities to support emotional safety and understanding.

This can help with trauma, loss, family change, attachment difficulties, or when relationships feel strained.

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Where sessions take place

I offer flexible therapy options to make sure children and young people can access support in the way that best suits their needs.

Therapy Centres

Face-to-face sessions take place in a welcoming therapeutic space where children can feel safe to explore, play, and express themselves freely. I work from therapy centres in Ilkley, Bingley, Skipton and Leeds.

In Schools

I also work within schools, bringing a fully equipped mobile therapy kit and extensive experience of educational settings. This allows children to access consistent, child-centred therapy during the school day in a familiar routine of support.

Online Therapy

I offer secure, interactive online therapy sessions where clinically appropriate. These sessions use creative tools, games, drawing, storytelling, and other therapeutic resources to support engagement and connection in a flexible, accessible way.

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FREE MINI-COURSE

Thinking about play therapy for your child?

This short, free mini-course explains what play therapy is, how it works and what you can expect if your child comes to therapy with me.

Gillian worked with my 10 year old son through play therapy. I can't stress enough the difference it had. My son struggles with emotional regulation and when the sessions began, at home he was able to manage situations that are stressful for him in safe ways and had little to no big crisis'. He gained such an understanding of himself and how he feels. Thank you so much for your support and kindness.

Sophie, Parent

Let's Talk

We’ll start with a free, no-obligation conversation. This is usually by phone or email, and is a chance for you to talk through your concerns, ask questions, and explore whether therapy feels like the right next step for your child.