Puffin Play Therapy

11/01/2026

For neurodivergent children, school can feel super hard. Masking is exhausting as is the emotional fallout after masking all day (for children and their safe adults). As this post highlights, masking is not ‘success’ it is not ‘resilience. Masking is to hide and deny your true self and this is uncomfortable. It goes against a natural inclination towards authenticity, it means the world is unsafe to be fully yourself.

I will always advocate for the social, emotional and physical needs of neurodivergent children. I have my own neurodivergent children and I am in a process of recognising my own sensory and social ‘quirks’, which impact my mental health and remain undiagnosed.

The play therapy space is a place where children can just BE, without judgement or expectation. A place for acceptance, I adapt where necessary, as children have a wide range of sensory and neurodivergent profiles.

In the playroom I SEE you in multicolour, I HEAR you, even when your communication is not verbal, I am present and every part of you is celebrated.

Picture of a great book I have used at home and with children in the play room.



https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1CKPbBDHys/?mibextid=wwXIfr

09/01/2026

Great news to share, following an appeal to the wonderful community of Moray I have a Play Therapy space for every Tuesday in Lossiemouth at Lossiemouth Community Development Trust. I will have 4 session slots from next week. I will be offering another day for sessions in time but for now I’m taking referrals for Lossiemouth. Please get in touch through my website or social media if you would like more information.

Thank you Moray for your many responses to my Facebook appeal! I would be hugely grateful if you continue to share about my Play Therapy Service to people and organisations so I can continue to grow and share the healing power of play. ❤️

20/12/2025

This little puffin is signing off for some festive fun 🎄

And if anyone’s Christmas feels less than “perfect”, it might help to know that mine will probably look like this: last-minute wrapping after the annual sellotape hunt, a frantic search for a turkey that somehow turns into a chicken (because I know I can cook that), plates that aren’t chipped but definitely don’t match, squeezing more people round the table than is physically possible, and general good-natured chaos.

It will almost certainly include a Christmas Day beach walk where we attempt to keep the kids out of the sea despite the cold… and inevitably fail, ending up with them travelling home in the car in their underwear because I always forget to pack spare clothes.

This is just our version of Christmas, everyone’s chaos will be unique and that is better than ‘perfect’, it’s beautiful.

Wishing you all a safe and happy Christmas. And holding in my heart those for whom Christmas is difficult, or who are reflecting on a challenging year gone by while quietly hoping for gentler days ahead. ❤️

See you in 2026

08/12/2025

Hello wonderful people of Elgin and the surrounding areas. I’m reaching out because I need your help!

I’m an experienced Play and Creative Arts Therapist, new to Elgin as of August, and I’m eager to establish my service here in Moray. Many of you will know a child who could benefit from play therapy — perhaps they’re struggling with anxiety, loss, trauma, or big emotions that show up as anger or challenging behaviour. Play therapy is also a wonderful support for children who are neurodivergent or have additional support needs, offering a safe, expressive, and non-pressured way for them to process their experiences.

Right now, the only thing holding me back is the lack of a suitable playroom.

I’m looking for a small, affordable space where I can work 1:1 with children. It needs to be a confidential room where exploration is encouraged — sometimes therapy can be a little messy or noisy — and having a sink in or near the room would be ideal. Storage would be a bonus, but not essential, as I will bring my kit with me.

I believe that therapy should be accessible where there is a need and so I would like to be able to keep my costs down. I’m very open to creative arrangements, including cost-effective options or even a service exchange, such as keeping a therapy slot available at no charge in return for room use.

If you’re a business, school, charity, or community organisation with a space that might fit the bill — or if you know someone who might have a connection — I would be incredibly grateful to hear from you. And if you’re aware of any organisations supporting children, or children who might benefit from this type of support, please feel free to share my details with them. I'm keen to collaborate with local services with a similar vision and purpose.

I absolutely love what I do, and I’ve seen the healing power of play time and time again. I would be so grateful for any leads that might help me bring this service to more children in Moray.

If a space comes to mind, please get in touch. You will find more information about Play Therapy on my website and can download a leaflet about play therapy there too so you can share my service.

Thank you so much for reading this and for supporting children to access the support they deserve.

Puffin Play Therapy

www.puffinplaytherapy.co.uk

Welcome to Puffin Play Therapy. I am Becky Blackwell, a Play Therapist, registered social worker, clinical supervisor, Elgin, Moray, Scotland

08/12/2025

Play & Creative Arts Therapy Sessions Available in Moray

I currently have spaces available for Play and Creative Arts Therapy sessions here in Moray. If your child is feeling overwhelmed, struggling with big feelings, or could benefit from a safe, creative space to express themselves, please feel free to get in touch. 💛

More information: www.puffinplaytherapy.co.uk

As we move closer to Christmas, many children experience excitement and stress. Here are a few gentle ideas to support them during the festive build-up:

🎄 Keep routines steady
A little structure helps children feel secure when everything gets busier.
✨ Create calm moments
Snuggly stories, quiet play, or simple drawing time can help regulate big emotions.
🎁 Set realistic expectations
Talk about what Christmas will look like this year—who they’ll see, what will happen, and what might feel different.
💬 Make space for feelings
Whether they’re excited, overwhelmed, or unsure, let them know all feelings are welcome.
🤝 Stay connected
A few minutes of child-led play each day can make a big difference to their sense of safety and closeness.

If you feel your child could benefit from therapeutic support, or if you're unsure whether play therapy might help, I’m always happy to chat.

💛 Puffin Play Therapy – Supporting children through creativity, play and connection.

13/10/2025

School holidays are for Beach walks, pebble collecting, mandala art and some creative outdoor time with my own children.

We’ve explored all our senses today and benefitted from some gentle mindful grounding in the outdoors.

The sound of the waves 🌊
The satisfying sight of colourful beach huts against the clear sky ☀️
The smell of the sea air
The taste of the salty air on our lips
And exploration through touch of the sand, the textured shells, the smooth pebbles 🐚

The beach is where I go for my own self care and mindful moments.

Where is your happy place for self care?

10/10/2025

Jumping on an AI trend and thinking about my inner child. Being mindful of how we speak to ourselves, our inner child and the vulnerable parts of ourselves is so important. Our inner maidens or squires to think of archetypes. They are youthful, perhaps a little naive, hopeful, creative and full of potential.

What is the default voice towards the inner child? …. Criticism? Nurture? Praise? Unconditional Love?

Is the voice completely accepting of the whole of us? With all our quirks, idiosyncrasies, strengths. Our life journey is nuanced and our relationships complex.

I sometimes wonder why we can be so critical of ourselves, holding ourselves to impossible standards and then treat others with absolute compassion and understanding.

Part of any healing journey is to nurture our inner child. To see this visually feels so powerful. ❤️

From another perspective I reflect on the children who come into my play room. With their vulnerabilities, strengths and potential. I hold endless hope for their potential and this is just one of the reasons I love my job.

09/09/2025

Hello all, it’s been a while and so time to introduce myself again! Here I am in my happy place at the beach. I have loved exploring Scottish beaches since we moved but it’s time I also did some work and got to meet some more amazing children and families. I’m based in Elgin, Moray. I am a play therapist and trainee creative clinical supervisor. I love to get to know new people, I love learning about their strengths, experiences, interests and quirks, everything that makes them uniquely wonderful. I have previously worked as a social worker as well as with Deaf children using British Sigh Language.

I love my job, I love the opportunities it has given me and the people it has brought into my world. If you want to know more about play therapy or clinical supervision then please get in touch. I can offer supervision to play therapists, social workers, teachers and other school staff, other professions if you feel you can benefit from creative exploration of your work or caseload.

09/09/2025

Hello all, it’s been a while and so time to introduce myself again! Here I am in my happy place at the beach. I have loved exploring Scottish beaches since we moved but it’s time I also did some work and got to meet some more amazing children and families. I’m based in Elgin, Moray. I am a play therapist and trainee creative clinical supervisor. I love to get to know new people, I love learning about their strengths, experiences, interests and quirks, everything that makes them uniquely wonderful. I have previously worked as a social worker as well as with Deaf children using British Sigh Language.

I love my job, I love the opportunities it has given me and the people it has brought into my world. If you want to know more about play therapy or clinical supervision then please get in touch. I can offer supervision to play therapists, social workers, teachers and other school staff, other professions if you feel you can benefit from creative exploration of your work or caseload.

31/07/2025

As I prepare to move to Scotland in the next few days I’ve been reflecting on how much I value the supportive community of Play Therapists I’m grateful to be part of. This field is full of compassionate, creative, empathetic, and all round beautiful humans.

As I am saying my goodbyes in Wiltshire I met up with Kelly Boswell last week. She is an awesome therapist and clinical supervisor based in Salisbury. Kelly has been a huge support since I moved to Wiltshire three years ago. So if you have found my page because of a recommendation for Play Therapy in the Wiltshire area get in contact with .

Looking ahead, I’m looking forward to building new connections in Moray, Scotland, where I’ll be offering play therapy as well as creative clinical supervision. If you’re in the area and working in the world of therapeutic support, I’d love to connect and build up my Scottish network.

Thank you to my play therapy community, I’m incredibly grateful that I get to do this job.

02/07/2025

Last week I spent a wonderful week in the company of inspiring women at training in creative clinical supervision. I had the chance to connect with my creative spark and explore how this can support in the supervision process. I also felt rejuvenated in my own practice with clients and am excited to see what opportunities await me in Moray. (Not long till moving day!). At the PTUK conference prior to the training we also all had the pleasure of hearing Lisa Dion speak about working with aggression and intensity in play therapy. What an absolute inspiration, she is full of knowledge, insightful and a cheerleader for play therapists everywhere.

I’m now available to take on supervisees. So if you are a play therapist, social worker or other profession and you would like to find out more about me then get in touch.

31/05/2025

As some followers will be aware I am a military spouse and so our circumstances once again involve another house move. In August I will be leaving Wiltshire and moving to Lossiemouth in Scotland. To those who are on my waiting list I will be in touch with you in the coming weeks and have some other therapist contacts for you.

For children accessing therapy we ensure that endings and goodbyes become a celebration. A chance to reflect on our journey, our growth and to explore what may be next. This is so important for children, particulary for whom previous severance of relationships may have been traumatic or with challenging circumstances. We acknowledge that goodbyes can feel sad, this emotion inevitably exists alongside many others in the therapeutic space, this is honoured and explored with curiosity.

I personally have an acute sense of the privilege that my role allows me. To get to know children and families; to connect with other souls when they are navigating complex experiences and when they are vulnerable. I am grateful for the connections I have built with children, families and other professionals in my time in Wiltshire.

I will with gratitude in my heart honour our goodbyes and allow for all the emotions. Im sure there will be many. To all those who I have worked with during my time here, THANK YOU for being part of my time and my memories during this chapter.

Also, for anyone who has contacts up in Lossiemouth/Elgin and surrounding areas, please feel free to share my page!