Michelle Suddes

Michelle is a Certified Play Therapist, registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK 201802728). She has worked therapeutically with children and young people since 2019 and divides her working week between private practice and direct contracts in some primary schools. Prior to training as a Play Therapist, Michelle was a primary school teacher for twenty years. Her desire to understand the children in her care as individuals and offer personalized nurture and support for each of them, eventually lead Michelle to Play Therapy.

Individual Play Therapy sessions offer children the time and space to focus on themselves. Much of the work, certainly in the beginning is child led and non-directive, with the play-based equipment, creative materials and the development of the therapeutic relationship between Michelle and the child being central to the work undertaken. The sense of acceptance and freedom alongside the increasing trust built between the therapist and the child allows them to feel safe enough to express themselves in their own way. This can be particularly helpful if they are finding it hard to understand and articulate their experiences and emotions.

Play therapy can be helpful, for a wide range of issues and circumstances including; anxiety, low mood, bereavement and loss, traumatic experiences or events, familial relationship changes, alterations in behaviours at home or school and struggling with strong emotions such as anger or fear. It can also be beneficial for specific issues around neurodiversity.

Michelle works with children aged four to twelve years generally, but there are times when play therapy is appropriate for older children and young people.

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