Helen Forrester
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BAPT registered Play Therapist & Clinical Supervisor
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About me
What I can offer
I am a BAPT registered Play Therapist with 24 years of practice experience. I offer a variety of play therapy services in Cockenzie, East Lothian: Individual play therapy for children aged 3 - 12; Filial Therapy for parents and children together; parent conversations for parents and carers who need space to explore concerns about their children and find the first step forward; and supervision sessions for student & qualified play therapists, and professionals working with distressed children.
Where I am
I aim to offer a peaceful and safe space for both children and adults. My playroom is in Cockenzie House which is surrounded by gardens to explore, a cafe downstairs and a tiny beach nearby.
Who play therapy can help
Play Therapy can be helpful for children aged 3-12 who are finding the world a challenge to negotiate and are not enjoying their relationships and experiences as much as they could. For children who have experienced a traumatic time in their lives, play can be a way to safely look at these experiences and find some mastery over the fear and anxiety they might have caused.
What is play therapy?
Play Therapy is a non-directive, child-centred approach which harnesses children’s natural instinct to play. Through play, children explore the world and develop the skills they have to interact with it. They develop social skills, emotional understanding, and build their confidence and self-esteem. They learn to regulate their feelings and make sense of what happens in their world. Play brings about growth and change in every child but is particularly helpful for children who are distressed or struggling. Play Therapists offer a therapeutic relationship which enables children to use the medium of play to express themselves when words might be hard to find and to find a way through the difficulties they are experiencing.
Training, qualifications & experience
I qualified as a play therapist in 1997 at Roehampton University in London. I was trained in a child-centred, non-directive approach to play therapy which views children in the context of their families and wider communities, involving parents, carers and professionals surrounding a child in the support of that child. I am trained in both Filial Therapy and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy, both approaches which involve parents or carers in the therapy. My training for Filial Therapy was through the Family Enhancement & Play Therapy Centre with Rise Van Fleet and CPRT training with Roehampton University.
As a play therapist, I have worked for the past 24 years with children in primary schools, nurseries, residential schools, schools for children with additional needs and through charity organisations supporting children with a wide variety of experiences and challenges.
I have worked as a play therapy supervisor since 2002, training more recently in creative supervision techniques through BAPT.
Member organisations
British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT)
The British Association of Play Therapists was founded in 1992 by a group of now respected practitioners who introduced and pioneered Play Therapy within Britain. Accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
Accredited register membership
Accredited Register Scheme
The Accredited Register Scheme was set up in 2013 by the Department of Health (DoH) as a way to recognise organisations that hold voluntary registers which meet certain standards. These standards are set by the Professional Standards Authority (PSA).
This therapist has indicated that they belong to an Accredited Register.
Areas of counselling I deal with
Therapies offered
Photos & videos
Fees
From £40.00 to £50.00
Free initial in-person, telephone or online session
Concessions offered for
Additional information
- Individual play therapy: £50 per session
- Filial Therapy: £50 per session
- Clinical supervision: £40 per hour
- Parent & carer conversations: £40 per session (1 hour)
When I work
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Working hours 9am - 5pm Monday to Thursday
