Katie Jones

26/09/2025

When words aren’t enough, play speaks.

Play therapy gives children a safe space to express feelings, work through worries and build confidence - all through toys, art and imagination.

Swipe to see how it works and the positive changes it can bring for children and their families🌈

25/09/2025

Today I started my play therapy training. Our very first task was to choose an object from a selection of toys and figures - something that resonated with us and then introduce ourselves through it.

Amongst the animals, vehicles and people sat one simple white feather, right in the centre of the pile. I asked my tutor if I could pick it, as it wasn’t quite like the others - she smiled and said, “it must be there for a reason.”

For me, that reason was clear. I felt my wonderful father-in-law looking down on me, reminding me that he’s right beside me as I step into this new journey 👼🪽🪶

24/09/2025

I discovered something about myself tonight that I never truly realised, all through my CPD coaching call.

As a child, I created complexes to protect myself. Our young brains are so powerful - they build patterns that can last into adulthood.

For me, it was people pleasing. Avoiding conflict, holding back opinions, always going along to keep the peace. Even today, I catch myself doing it - like deleting a post when someone disagrees, just to avoid confrontation.

I thank 7-year-old me for protecting me. She did the best she could. But now, as an adult, I can see those complexes for what they are and start freeing myself from them.

And this is exactly what Drawing and Talking gives children. They too create protective complexes and through their drawings and stories, they can safely process and release them.

I help those “7-year-olds” so they don’t have to wait until adulthood to find freedom - giving them lighter hearts and stronger voices for the future🦋

23/09/2025

Hearing comments that place blame on mothers for something as complex as autism is deeply upsetting. There’s no single cause, and mothers trying to manage pain or illness during pregnancy should never carry guilt for something beyond their control.

We need more compassion, understanding, and support - not fear or stigma. Sending love to everyone feeling judged today. You are not alone. 💛

23/09/2025

✨ Ever wondered why certain stories, characters or roles feel so familiar?
That’s the power of archetypes - the universal patterns that live within all of us.

They shape how we see the world, the roles we step into, and even the challenges we face.

In this carousel, I’ll share what archetypes are, why they matter for our emotional wellbeing, and how understanding them can help us grow and heal.

➡️ Swipe through to discover your inner archetypes and see how they might be showing up in your life.

23/09/2025

A little lift to brighten your day. ✨

Having a tough time at work or school? 🌿
Need a little downtime to unwind or some simple tools to help you manage on the go?
Our Little Lifts Wellbeing Toolbox is designed to bring calm, comfort, and positivity wherever you are.

With three unique boxes for kids, teens, and adults, everyone can enjoy their own wellbeing boost. From journaling to breathing techniques, this box has it all. 🌿

Because sometimes, we all need a little lift. 💛



https://capturedcreationskj.etsy.com

22/09/2025

A wonderful evening at the re-launch of The Stonehenge Chamber!
It was inspiring to hear about all the exciting ideas and plans in place for the future. I’m really looking forward to being a part of it, supporting the community with their wellbeing and mental health 💚

22/09/2025

How is success in Drawing and Talking measured? 💭✏️

I was asked this question recently by a prospective client and here’s how I explained it:

Emotional wellbeing is a lot like learning to read and write – it doesn’t happen overnight. It takes time, patience and gentle practice. Even as adults, we sometimes stumble over words or struggle with handwriting and emotional wellbeing works the same way.

I’ll never say that after 12 weeks of Drawing and Talking a child will be “fixed.” That’s not my role. My role is to walk alongside a child, giving them a safe and creative space to process their feelings in a way that makes sense to them.

🌱 So, what does success look like?
I do use questionnaires that show changes, but the real measure comes from the small shifts others notice:
✨ A child smiling more
✨ Talking more openly about their day
✨ Sleeping better or feeling calmer

And sometimes, we see bigger breakthroughs:
🌟 Improved focus in school
🌟 Stronger friendships
🌟 Coming in happier, more settled, and even excelling in their work

The truth is, success looks different for every child. Sometimes you see it quickly, other times it unfolds over weeks, months, or even years. Drawing and Talking is about early intervention – helping children build the emotional foundation they need to thrive.

This matters because so many adults now seek therapy. Not because of parenting or upbringing, but because as a society, we didn’t make enough space for emotional wellbeing when they were young. Twenty years ago, few people admitted they were struggling.
Now, we’re finally recognising that emotional wellness belongs at the very heart of childhood. 💕

At the end of the day, success isn’t measured on paper – it’s seen in the confidence, actions, and smiles of a child as they begin to flourish. 🌸

19/09/2025

What I learnt in my EBSA training⬇️

Imagine our feelings as a shape sorter toy:

🔴 Red shape – Anger: that’s a “bad” feeling, so push it to one side.
🔵 Blue shape – Sad: another “bad” feeling.
🟡 Yellow shape – Happy: that’s a “good” feeling, we’ll keep that over here.
🟢 Green shape – Calm: another “good” feeling.
🟣 Purple shape – Anxious: that’s a “bad” feeling.

This shape sorting is our body’s way of keeping us “safe.” If a feeling is uncomfortable, our instinct is to avoid it, to protect ourselves from sitting with something painful.

But here’s the challenge: when someone we love dies for example, we naturally feel sad. Yet if sadness has been labelled as a “bad” feeling, we push it away. And if we can’t feel sad, we end up feeling… nothing. Numb.

Now think of this in school environment. An incident may happens and a child gets angry in school. If anger is seen as a “bad” feeling, their body says: “Let’s avoid that.” And since the anger happened at school, the solution becomes avoiding school altogether.

This is why Drawing and Talking is so powerful.
It helps children learn that feelings aren’t good or bad - they’re just feelings. Some are tricky, some are uncomfortable, but all are survivable.

By sitting with those shapes (even the difficult ones!), children discover that they can face them, feel them and still come out the other side.

18/09/2025

A wonderful new local school that’s opened 🦋

https://forms.office.com/e/dUiWUwNWrf?origin=lprLink

We've opening our doors - to welcome you to special evening at Robins Way School, a brand-new school dedicated to supporting children with social, emotional, and mental health needs.

We believe in building confidence, curiosity, and connection - one child at a time. If you're looking for a school that celebrates neurodiversity and puts wellbeing at the heart of learning, we would love to meet you.

Come and explore our nurturing, sensory-friendly environment where every child is seen, heard and supported. Whether you are a parent, carer, educator, or curious community member, this is your chance to:

Meet the team
Learn more about our therapeutic approach
Tailored Curriculum
Have a tour of our school

Please book onto one of our Open evening by using the forms link above.

17/09/2025

During my course yesterday, I learnt something new that really stuck with me 💡

When a person is triggered and in a state of fight, flight or freeze, they can actually lose their ability to communicate. 🫥

So, when something happens at school and they come home, you might ask…
“Why did you do that?”
“How did this happen?”
But instead of responding, your child goes quiet. Then you get more heightened - “Answer me, why aren’t you listening?”😠

The truth is, they are listening. They just can’t respond. In that triggered state, the brain only has access to around FOUR words…that’s it!
They literally can’t piece together full sentences.

This is where body language becomes so important. When the mouth and throat cannot communicate, the body and behaviour often will. Watch for the signs of how their psyche is speaking on the outside. 🧠

If this response happens repeatedly, it becomes a pattern. The psyche learns at a young age that this is how to cope with overwhelm, and it can follow someone through life as a trigger pattern.

So, what can you do to help❓
If someone is triggered - stop with the questions!Remember the number 4, pay attention to their body language and just be there.

Stay calm, stay present and when they come out of that fight/flight/freeze state, their words will return and that’s the time to talk it through 🦋