Mixed Emotions Play Therapy

27/05/2026

✨ Reduced-cost spaces available over summer: June, July & August 2026 ✨

To help make play therapy more accessible during these financially challenging times, I have a limited number of reduced-cost sessions available. Please get in touch if we’ve already spoken, or if you’ve been thinking about reaching out but haven’t done so yet.

Reduced cost does not mean reduced service- the same level of care and support will always be provided. Get in touch for more information and to discuss the cost, which will be reviewed at the end of August 20026- at which point the price may change.

Mixed Emotions Play Therapy is based in Aberdeen. Sharlene Higgins is an experienced play therapist supporting the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Of Children.

18/05/2026

Grief looks different for every child. 💔 Play therapy offers a safe space to express, explore and start to heal, one step at a time- at their own pace and in their own way.

Children experiencing loss and bereavement often do not process grief in the same way adults do. Their feelings may appear through behaviour, play, anger, withdrawal, clinginess, physical complaints or changes in school presentation rather than words alone.

Play therapy offers children a developmentally appropriate way to explore overwhelming emotions safely. Children naturally communicate through play long before they can fully explain complex feelings verbally. Through symbolic play, creativity, sensory experiences and the therapeutic relationship, children can begin to process confusion, sadness, fear and changes in their world.

Play therapy works because it meets children where they are developmentally, allowing them to express feelings at their own pace without pressure to “talk about it” before they are ready. A safe, attuned therapeutic relationship can help children feel understood, regulated and less alone in their grief.

For many children, healing begins not with finding the right words, but with feeling safe enough to play.

08/05/2026

📣 We’re excited share that Mixed Emotions Play Therapy and Balance OT are now sharing a therapy space at 7 Queens Gardens!

On different days, we will each continue to offer our own independent services in the same welcoming room- creating a supportive environment for children, young people and their families.

✨ Mixed Emotions offers a safe, consistent and accepting space for children to explore feelings, process their experiences and express themselves through play!

✨ Balance OT provides occupational therapy support, helping children build skills for everyday life, independence and confidence. Working on foundation motor sensory skills for success and achievement!

Sharing this space allows us to create a nurturing, child-friendly environment where families can access different types of support in one place.

If you’d like to find out more about either service, please get in touch- we’d love to hear from you! 😊

Sharlene & Brid
www.mixedemotionsplaytherapy.co.uk
www.balanceot.com

27/04/2026

🌱 Adding Strings, Strengthening Practice 🎻

Today is the day!!! 🤩 I’m excited to explore the BUSS model by Sara Lloyd- a framework I’ve been eager to learn for some time! I'm ready to gain practical insights to enhance my Play Therapy practice and support my CPD journey 🚌

Can’t wait to bring new tools, reflective thinking and understanding into my sessions with the children I’m lucky to support 🫶

22/04/2026

🪞Wednesday reflection 🪞

The holidays are over and many children are returning to nursery or school routines. For some, this sense of predictability and structure can feel reassuring and help with emotional regulation. At the same time, transitions can be tricky- big feelings, worries or changes in behaviour may show up as children adjust back.

💡Things you might try over the weekend to help next week:
Keep routines simple and consistent (mealtimes, bedtime, morning rhythm)
Talk gently about what next week will look like
Build in calm, connecting time together
PLAY! Even for only 10 minutes, letting your child lead
If helpful, practice small “moments of separation”

These kind of small steps can help children feel more secure over the weekend and feel more prepared going into the week ahead. If you would like space to talk things through, get in touch and we can arrange a parent session to explore what may best support your child and family.

Mixed Emotions Play Therapy is based in Aberdeen. Sharlene Higgins is an experienced play therapist supporting the Emotional Health and Wellbeing Of Children.

20/04/2026

📦🏡NEW HOME DAY!!!📦🏡

Big news in the playroom… we’ve upgraded the dollhouse! 🤩

A dollhouse is a powerful therapeutic tool, giving children a safe space to explore and express their understanding of family life and everyday experiences. Through play, they can share their thoughts and feelings in a natural and meaningful way. This process supports emotional growth while helping the therapist better understand each child’s unique journey.

14/04/2026

Play therapy often seems to be about finding a balance- honouring the child's inner world as it unfolds, while recognising that even the most subtle moments of connection, safety and understanding leave a meaningful impression. Not in a manner that directs, but in a gentle way that supports what is already present 🫶

(Quote by Robert Heinlein, used for inspiration in supporting children's growth and well-being).

06/04/2026

🐣Happy Easter Holidays! 🐰

Resharing because, well… holidays 😬 Children don’t need us to be perfect, they just need us to keep showing up!

Take a deep breath- you’re doing better than you think! Every hug, every story, every moment you show up truly matters. 🥰

01/04/2026

Ever feel like your child’s mood is a complete mystery? 😵‍💫 Their behaviour may seem random or even deliberate, but there’s almost always a reason behind it.

By understanding what’s happening for both your child and yourself, you can start to uncover what’s really going on beneath the surface 🕵️‍♂️

I have to thank for this one...

Children’s behaviour is often labeled as “naughty” or “on purpose” but behind every action is a reason- whether it’s frustration, fatigue, needing attention or their way of communicating something they can’t yet put into words. Behavior = Clues. Be the detective 🕵️‍♀️

27/03/2026

📌Parents and Carers! 📌

Here are all the restaurants and cafés offering ‘Kids Eat Free’ or 'Kids eat for £1' throughout the Easter holiday period 🍽️

Sharing from moneysavingcentral.co.uk 👏

07/03/2026

🙋🏻‍♀️Talking About War & Conflict 🤷🏻‍♂️

The world may feel overwhelming right now, you’re not alone in feeling like this. If your child is looking to you for support to make sense of world events and you are unsure of what to say, you might find it helpful to look up Beacon House resources: Talking to children about war and conflict.

It might not have all the answers, but it will offer some help as you navigate difficult conversations.

Image or information courtesy of Beacon House Therapeutic Services & Trauma Team | 2024 | www.beaconhouse.org.u