Dot's Playroom

22/08/2025

** VISUALS **

For our little ones who find it hard to understand the concept of time, creating a visual schedule with pictures can provide some clarity around what's happening and give a sense of control when they can go and check it/tick things off for themselves.

I created something like this around my little one's birthday as there was a lot of excitement around the party and presents. This week we've lots of different things going on, with sleepovers, the end of Forest school and his nursery induction. I asked if he'd like a calendar for nursery and he told me to add the other things too 🥰

Even if your child is older, if they struggle with feeling anxious around transition times, this can be a great tool to help them feel empowered. They can create their own symbols and decorate, giving them a sense of ownership and also help to contain some of those big feelings.

13/08/2025

✨✨✨ NEW DATE ✨✨✨

We are excited to announce a new date for our third Parenting Matters workshop.

Through Isla's work counselling adults and my work with families, we both see a huge need and gap in the system for supporting parents. This workshop has been created through combining our experience and expertise in our therapy fields, but most importantly through our personal experiences of being mummies.

If you have any questions, please get in touch and please share to spread the word!

12/08/2025

While I have been pouring into your little people, I have been growing my second little one and I can't believe I am at the point where I am counting down to another maternity leave 🤰🏼

*** This is the last week for accepting new referrals for 1:1 sessions ***

This will allow time for the initial parental assessment and a significant block of 10 weeks. While short term interventions can be helpful too, my preference is to work longer term to allow for the non-directive power of play.

Anyone who has been following me for a while knows my passion for empowering parents. This service will continue right through to the end of October, so please reach out and we can discuss some options.

Also watch out for another Parenting Matters workshop in September. More details to follow ✨

11/08/2025

Absolutely love this from 💙✨💙

We're clearing out our house at the moment and I came across my scrap book filled with pictures and little cards from children and parents over all the years. I remember them all. I remember their faces, I remember their stories and I remember what they played with 💜

There is usually a very deep and personal reason why people end up becoming child therapists. It isn't just a job. It's so much more than that.

And often, while we tend to work 1:1 with the child, we have been made aware of what is happening within the family as a whole. Sometimes parents / carers have never voiced or explored these feelings before, so often we aren't just thinking about our child clients, we are often thinking about the entire family and remembering them along the way too.

27/07/2025

We spent the evening at Paw Patrol Live last night. The awe and wonder of little ones is something that makes my heart so happy 🥹

I spent the entire time thinking I wish this was the kind of atmosphere we provided everywhere for our children. I watched little people just roaming around the arena, dancing and singing along. Free to be, living their best wee lives being authentically themselves. Loud messy and chaotic and it was all welcomed!

Maybe someday 🙏🏻💜

15/07/2025

I spent some time in Donegal last week with my wonderful wee family to recharge. We spent some time at the beach and I totally underestimated the power of the sun. I didn't put any suncream on my legs and got so burnt they bruised 🙈 I could have done with some aloe vera to soothe the pain, but had to wait until we got back home.

It made me think about Play Therapy ... because you can't switch that part of a therapist's brain off, even when you're "off" ... and how it is often used as aloe vera. I usually hear from families at, or close to, crisis point. They've exhausted all the strategies, the pain has become unmanageable and now everyone is overwhelmed and in need of support. Lots of soothing; lots of aloe vera.

It made me think about how Play Therapy can be most effective when used as suncream. A protective factor and an early preventative measure.

Trust the small changes you are noticing in your child. You don't have to keep pushing through. You don't have to wait until you've all got burnt. To quote Baz Luhrmann's lyrics, "trust me on the sunscreen".

06/07/2025

Does your child like to make dens or little spaces to hide or cosy down in? I love watching kids do this, especially when they are using the things around them: tables, throws, blankets, cushions, chairs, pillows.

Dens can symbolise lots of things:

⭐A safe space
⭐ Containment (of big messy feelings)
⭐An escape
⭐Somewhere to hide
⭐A place to regulate
⭐A moment of quiet
⭐Feeling cosy and held
⭐Feeling grounded
⭐Feeling empowered
⭐A sense of mastery
⭐A reminder of being in the womb

We were away for a few days in our campervan last week and my little one made himself a "snuggly place" to rest in. The second pic was this afternoon when he wanted his tent out. Although there wasn't much resting done in it and it became a play tent instead.

If you think this could be helpful for your little one, encourage this for them. Maybe they need a safe space or to feel a little more grounded within themselves. If you notice your little one already has a tendency to do this, encourage it. It could be linked to one of these things above Let them get creative and use "raw materials". Join in if you can, but as always let them lead the way 💜

28/06/2025

It was nine years ago that I completed the first half of my Play Therapy training. I still miss those weekends and wish I could do it all over again. They were life changing.

So much has changed in the last nine years. Professionally and personally. I am so grateful for the path my training has taken me on; the people I've met, the wonderful families I've got to meet and support, the collaborations on projects, the co-workers who have become close friends, the healing I've been able to do.

And while so much has changed, something hasn't changed at all. My desire to support children and families has only grown since becoming a mummy myself and it continues to grow amongst the conflicting advice around parenting.

The vision of Dot's Playroom was given to me in the early days of this training. I have learnt that a vision doesn't have to stay static. I feel it is only one piece of the puzzle and I am excited to see what the next few years bring as I enter into a different season of motherhood. Because this isn't "just a job", it's a way of being and it filters into every aspect of my life 💜

Stay tuned ✨✨

22/06/2025

✨✨ Exciting Update ✨✨

I have spent the most gorgeous day with and a group of wonderful like minded women, training to become a Glow Girls facilitator.

This beautiful programme has been specially designed for our 10-14 year old girls and is all about empowering them, increasing self worth and adding tools to their emotional tool kit.

It can be delivered to youth groups, community groups, sports groups and in schools. It is a much needed resource for this age group, as they are the ones being hugely impacted by the influence of the digital era 😢 Themes can be tailored to meet your group, but could include things such as friendships, be your own BFF, healthy living, feelings, body awareness.

If you would like more information, please send me a message. If you know any local groups who might be interested, please get in touch and share the word!

I see how much our girls are suffering through my play therapy work. I wish I would have had this kind of thing available when I was growing up. Our girls need to know their worth 💪🏼🩷💪🏼

LET'S GLOW ✨

17/06/2025

Amazing opportunity through an amazing organisation. For adopted 9-11 year olds.

See link below to register ✨

Still a few places left on this programme! Bookings close on Monday 23rd June!

Looking for a fun, supportive and inclusive activity for your child over the summer?

Check out this five week course for adopted 9-11 year olds being delivered in partnership with PlayBoard NI

To book a space, click the link below… ⬇️

https://forms.office.com/e/2L4eN0BY2W

21/05/2025

💭💭 Wednesday Wonderings 💭💭

It's been a little while since I've shared something. Things have been busy professionally and personally, but I wanted to share a personal story about how our children pick up on our feelings and co-regulation.

Last night I had a friend coming round when I got my little one to bed. While we were planning work, I was sooo excited to spend time with a close friend, especially after a tiring day at work.

He was tired, hadn't had any danger naps in the car and we were slowing down with some jigsaws. Right on cue for the usual bedtime. Or so I thought. The jigsaws took longer than expected, but as we snuggled down he said he wanted to go up to his bed. Brilliant, I thought; he'll be sleeping in no time. I popped my dinner in the oven, I put on stories and waited for silence to ensue. But all I could hear was tossing and turning and little footsteps coming to ask me questions. I could feel myself losing patience and getting stern. It was as if the more heightened I became, the harder he "pushed".

After about 30 mins of in and out, I went in to him and he put his hand out the side of his bed. Those tiny, precious little hands 🥹 I could see the bags under his eyes. He was shattered and I had to admit, so was I. I lay down on his fluffy grey carpet and held that squishy hand between mine. I took a few deep breaths and sank into the carpet. I surrendered to what he needed from me, to my burning dinner, to my friend understanding if things were later than planned. He didn't know my friend was coming, but he could sense something was different. He didn't want me to rush past this moment of connection before bed. He hadn't seen me all day. He needed to feel safe and soothed before being able to let go of the day and drift off to sleep.

We must remember that sleep creates a situation of separation for our little ones. So it would make sense that there are times when they try to put this off. Don't be afraid to soothe them or help them to sleep. Don't most of us sleep beside a partner, have a favourite blanket, use the TV or some other audio input to fall asleep ...

02/05/2025

Today I found myself back at Clotsworthy House in Antrim, where my Play Therapy journey began. Even after 10 years I still felt myself getting emotional driving into the car park. This place will always hold such a special place in my heart. I was so lucky to have the tutor I did and the group of ladies on both the certificate and diploma course to work alongside.

I am so grateful for the path it set me on, not only professionally, but personally too. People often don't understand what is required in training to become a therapist or counsellor. How can we be a witness to others' pain if we haven't first looked at and start to process our own? Not an easy thing to do and still something I need support with regularly. And I wouldn't change it because that is what you do when you have little people's hearts in your hand ✨💜