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About Play Therapy

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Play Therapy 

What is it? Who is it for? What to expect?

What is it?

Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach used to support children and families. To help children express emotions, process experiences and develop coping skills through safe, non-judgemental, non-directive and child-led play activities. A modality informed by the principles and work of Virginia Axline and Carl Jung. 

Who is it for? 

Play Therapy is a supportive medium designed to enable all children to reach their potential in all aspects of life. Research by PTUK (Play Therapy UK) reported Play Therapy as being an effective tool for children who are experiencing:

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  • Difficulties with maintaining concentration

  • Disturbed sleep

  • Family Changes

  • Challenging friendships and bullying

  • Illness or Recovery from Illness

  • Anxiety, Stress and Phobias

  • Loss and bereavements

  • Change in emotional wellbeing

  • A Learning Difference (including neurodivergent learners)

  • Difficulties communicating emotions

  • School reluctance or school refusal

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It is important to note that there are some limitations to play therapy as a support. That children presenting with severe mental health illness must be referred to a G.P. 

What to expect at your introduction meeting?

When considering play therapy as a support for your family. It is important to arrange an initial introduction meeting with your prospective play therapist. This is an important stage to allow families and therapist to meet and explore if they are compatible team. It is important for all family members to feel safe and comfortable in the therapeutic space. It is recommended that all caregivers and parenting partners are present at the initial meeting.

 

During the initial meeting a brief assessment  known as a SDQ (Strength and Difficulty Questionnaire) will be completed. This is a tool used to gather information about your child, your family and your reasons for accessing therapeutic support.

 

Some therapeutic targets for initial play therapy intervention are set and an initial therapeutic plan will be drafted for your family. This will include a commitment to attending a number of play sessions (usually 12) for your child and a number of parent support sessions (usually 3).

 

The therapist will walk through some of the therapeutic agreements that all parties must agree to before play therapy sessions can begin. Families can take time to review these agreements before signing and commencing play therapy.

Safe and ethical private practice?

  • Fully Garda Vetted

  • Tusla Child First Training (Updated)

  • Full Registration with APAC, PTUK, PTI and IPTCA.

  • PPS Membership Certificate Fully Insured

  • Under Clinical Supervisions with G. Kearns and Peer Supervision - My work is reviewed regularly for best practice standards

  • Adheres to the PTUK Ethical Framework and Axline Principles.

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​​Play Therapy Specific Training

  • Working with Parents and Caregivers - Seeds of Growth Training

  • Developmental Trauma -Beacon House Training

  • Prevent Training - HM Gov.

  • GDPR Foundations Course

  • Children First - Tusla

  • Eating Disorders and Play Therapy 3.4.25

  • Innovation and Play Therapy 8.4.25

  • IPTCA & Lisa Dion 2 Day Conference: OCD and Anxiety 12th & 13th April 2025

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Autism Specific Training

  • ​PEP 3 Administration

  • Sensory Processing and Motor Skills Development

  • AFLS: Assessment of Functional Living

  • Curriculum Assess and CAT GLD

  • Pathways to Prevention

  • Social Drama

  • Autism, Mental Health and Managing Anxiety

  • DIR Floortime

  • Co-occurring additional Needs

  • 5 Day TEACCH

  • CABA - Contemporary Applied Behaviour Analysis

  • Epilepsy Awareness

  • Elkan - Speech and Language Support for 5-11s

  • Transitions Through Education

  • PECS Level 1

  • ​ABLLS and VB Map

Fiona Flaherty
Play Therapist
PT Irl. Mem: 202004530

A primary school teacher with over 14 years experience and a passion for working with neurodivergent learners. After 8 years of working in special education classrooms, Fiona saw a need for some deeper emotional and wellbeing care in her students and their families. Seeking to find the missing piece to her education tool kit, she initially qualified as a therapeutic play facilitator. Seeing the value and power of play as a healing modality, Fiona went on to train with APAC (Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy) and qualified as a Play Therapist. As a qualified play therapist she went on to open Little Valley Play Therapy in Dublin 22. 

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Qualifications and Training

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy - APAC  Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy and University of Galway (Feb 2024)

  • Masters in Special educational Need (ASD), Special education and Teaching - University of Galway (Sept 2023)

  • Masters in Educational Management and Leadership - Maynooth University (Jun 2022)

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills - APAC Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy and University of Galway (Jun 2022)

  • Post Graduate Certificate in Educational Management and Leadership, Education - Maynooth University (Nov 2021)

  • Post Graduate Diploma in Special Educational Needs (ASD) University of Galway (Jun 2019)

  • ​Bachelor of Education (Hons) -Trinity College Dublin (Sep 2013)

  • Bachelor of Education - Trinity College Dublin (Jun 2012)

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