We are currently welcoming expressions of interest to join Zephyr’s Creative Play Therapy pilot. Please note that whilst we are in the pilot phase, availability may be limited.
How does it work and who is it for?
Zephyr’s Creative Play Therapy provides 1-2-1 support for young people, following the loss of a sibling or a young family member. Led by Sharon, our Creative Play Therapist, these sessions run weekly at the same time, in the same place (our counselling room at Sherwood Community Centre).
The consistency and frequency are an important part of the therapy process and for developing a trusting relationship in a safe environment, where a child can self-express and play out their emotions and problems securely. In this therapy, children can enter into a dynamic relationship with their therapist that enables them to express, explore and make sense of their difficult feelings and experiences.
For parents, we can help you decide how suitable this might be for your child.
Visit our ‘Is Creative Play Therapy right for my child?’ guide here for further info.
For younger children, we call this service Play Therapy.
Visit our ‘Play Therapy for children’ guide here for further info.
For older children or young adults using this service, we call this Creative Therapy.
Visit our ‘Creative Therapy for Young People’ guide here for further info.
Zephyr’s pilot service will offer 1 initial conversation with the wider family, followed by 8 x 1-2-1 sessions for your child. As the child’s parent(s)/carer(s) you will complete the referral form, and then meet with our therapist Sharon. Together you will talk through the context and background of your loss, your child’s interests, and anything you feel it’s important to know.
When and where?
The sessions will be booked in between Sharon and your family, and will run weekly for the duration. The sessions take place in Zephyr’s counselling room, located at Sherwood Community Centre, Nottingham, NG5 3FN.
Meet Sharon, our Play Therapist
“My name is Sharon and I am a Play Therapist who believes in the power of play for all ages, including adults.
I hold a Masters degree in Play Therapy from the department of Psychology at Roehampton University and I am registered with the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT).
I have a demonstrated history of working with children and families. Skilled in Play Therapy, Child Centred Work, Mental Health, Bereavement & Loss, Counselling Psychology, Play, Attachment Theory, Child behaviour, Trauma and Early Years Development gives me a firm base from which to support children and young people.“
“I am a huge advocate for play and especially for greater amounts of play in primary educational settings. Creativity and play are powerful keys to positive mental health which can be carried into adulthood. Childhood experiences that may have a negative effect on healthy development can be addressed through play, as children are able to explore and express feelings they may be unable to understand or verbalise. Play is a child’s primary form of communication and the play therapist enables their inner resources through the therapeutic relationship to bring about growth and change.
My play therapy work is child centred, giving the child a safe space to explore and work through difficult and traumatic experiences at their own pace. Empowering them in their understanding and self actualising tendencies, which in turn can promote emotional intelligence, self awareness, self expression and healing.”
What is helpful to know?
· It is helpful if you can support the idea of Creative Play Therapy because a child will be more responsive if significant adults in their life are supportive and consistent.
· Once sessions start, please resist the urge to ask how things have gone, so that a child does not feel under pressure to comment on something they may have difficulty in understanding themselves.
· Please do not check if a child has been good or bad in a session, as a child must feel free to express bad feelings in an uncensored way.
· If a child chooses to share something about a session, please show interest and listen to what they tell you. However, it is important that any comments you make are supportive and not judgmental.
· Please do not insist that a child tells the therapist certain things or check if certain things have been revealed. It is a child’s time in session and they alone must decide at what pace to reveal or discuss things.
· Sometimes we do get messy, we hope you will understand that being anxious about making a mess can be inhibiting. Please allow old clothes to be worn.
· It is important to warn you that, as with most therapeutic interventions, it is normal for behaviour to appear to get worse before it gets better. This is your child challenging their experiences and feelings that are troubling them, before they master them and move forward.
· Above all please remember that Zephyr’s Creative Play Therapy sessions are part of a confidential process, so please avoid probing into what a child has been doing or playing. Feedback will be given, especially if anything raises a concern.
· Emotional upheaval can be evident as sometimes emotional and difficult feelings are explored, especially in the beginning. Please share anything if problems arise that you are uncertain how to handle.
· If something significant happens between appointments that you think you need to share, contact our therapist Sharon or Carly at Zephyr’s.
How we can support you as a parent
Please know that we are here to support all members of the family who are bereaved and may need to connect to others or seek help through Zephyr’s. If your child has started Play Therapy and you feel that you yourself may benefit from some support, here are some of the options available to you.
You can contact us on 07915 995532, or reach out at [email protected]. If you would like to keep up to date with our support offerings via email, please let Carly know at the above address.
We have a newsletter about Zephyr’s activity, fundraising appeals and other general info that you can sign up here – https://zephyrs.org.uk/news-2/
We have compiled a list of various organisations who also provide support for bereaved parents. This resource can be accessed here – https://zephyrs.org.uk/support/other-organisations/
You can also follow Zephyr’s on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter at the links below to keep up to date with us and join our community.