Amanda Seyderhelm

You are welcome to contact me for an informal chat to discuss your needs.  

With 10 years experience and training in different modalities, I offer short and longer term play and creative arts therapy for children and families, and group training for counsellors, clinical psychologists and psychotherapists. 

What I can offer: 

An initial assessment and then you can decide if you would like to book any further sessions. I recommend an initial block of 12 sessions, with a formal review after 6.

a) With a Post-Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy (distinction) - play therapy is an evidence based treatment and helps your child to understand, communicate and process their struggles, developing new skills and resources and helping them to feel safe, secure and happy once again.

Play therapy is recommended for the treatment of mild to moderate psychological conditions. Loss can come in many forms, from bereavement or abandonment to divorce, changing schools or moving home. It can be hard for a child to process a loss. They won’t always know what’s making them feel anxious, angry or unhappy. They can’t tell you what’s worrying them or explain what they need.

Play therapy can help with:

• Angry outbursts or aggressive behaviour.
• Anxiety and excessive worrying.
• Separation anxiety or clinginess.
• Difficulty sleeping or nightmares.
• Defiant, rude or difficult behaviour.
• Problems at school or socially.

b) With a CRUSE Certificate in supporting bereaved children and young people and the publication of 3 books about using play and the creative arts to help children process loss, grief and change:

• Helping Children Become the Heroes of Their Stories: A Practical Guide for Professionals and Parents Facing New Learning Environments (2022), Routledge.
• Helping Children Cope with Loss and Change: A Guide for Professionals and Parents (2020), Routledge.
• Isaac and the Red Jumper, a picture book for bereaved children (2012), HARK Publications.

I provide:

• Play therapy training for professionals and parents in a 6 module online course. You’ll learn how to use play and art activities to help your child understand what’s bothering them and start to process the big feelings that are causing them, and you, to be unhappy.

I am a Certified Play and Creative Arts Therapist and a member of the BACP and work within an ethical framework in a safe and confidential environment. My aim is to offer a respectful and non-judgemental service. I have an up-to-date Enhanced Criminal Records Certificate issued by the Disclosure & Barring Service. 

• Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy (distinction) (Leeds Beckett University).
• Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (ChristChurch University).
• Certificate in Systemic Approaches to Treating Individuals, Families and Organisations (Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust).
• CRUSE certificate in supporting bereaved children and young people.
• B.A. English and Social Anthropology (University of the Witwatersrand)

I have gained experience whilst working in Primary Schools, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children Charity with individuals, families and groups. I have been in private practice since 2015, and accept referrals from primary and secondary schools, parents, local authorities, SEN services and the ASF to provide play therapy support to children. I am now a partner agency with Barnardos on loss and bereavement. I host the podcast Helping Children Smile Again after Loss and Change.

Privately funded play therapy

Before I see a child I complete a parental assessment prior to the child starting play therapy.  I assess the child's strengths and difficulties at home and at School, paying attention to five areas: their level of hyperactivity, pro-social skills, conduct, emotional resilience and peer relationships. 1.5hrs. £120.00.

After the child has completed six sessions of play therapy, I invite the parents in for a parental review. I give parents feedback on the child's progress and advice about how to support their child at home. 1hr. £75.00.

Play therapy sessions with children and young people. 50 minutes per session. £75.00.

School assessments. These are optional depending on whether the child's behaviour is problematic in School. I meet with the head teacher and SEN to discuss ways of supporting the child at School and, complete a strengths and difficulties questionaire of the child's behaviour in School.

Report writing for Court, solicitors and Schools. £45.00.

School and local authority funded play therapy

I accept payment through the Pupil Premium for play therapy. A special day rate is  available for me to see up to 6 children within a School environment.