The Play Pod

28/07/2025

I IS FOR INSPIRATION!

My mum is a keen knitter and I showed her a design on Etsy and she is creating me some emotion balls to go in my toolkit to be used with clients!

Can you guess this emotion? 🤣

I'm being inspired to create something of my own now... crochet Colour Monsters...a firm favourite book that is widely used in my kit!

Off to watch you tube crochet clips 🤣🤦🧶

26/07/2025

SH IS FOR SHARING SATURDAY!

How ironic I leave the teaching profession and my role as RSE lead and then some very BIG and GREAT changes happen...very pleased they have though!

📢 Grief education will now be included in the new statutory guidance on Relationships, Health and S*x Education (RHSE) in schools.

This is a positive and long-awaited step, which has been championed by many across the sector including Child Bereavement UK.

Grief education will help children learn about loss, bereavement and how to navigate feelings and emotions that arise from such an experience.

🧑‍🏫 Head here to explore some resources and training for education professionals:
👉 childbereavementuk.org/education

Great news that grief education will now be included in the new statutory guidance on Relationships, Health and S*x Education in schools. This is a positive step which has been championed over several years by many in the sector, including the Childhood Bereavement Network, Child Bereavement UK, Winston’s Wish, and our Funeral Industry Advisor John Adams.

Grief education will help ensure that children will learn about change and loss, including bereavement, and how it can provoke a range of feelings. We hope this will help schools to support children and young people to talk openly about grief and bereavement, helping them to better cope with their own bereavements and support others with compassion.

Visit our website to view our resources and training for education professionals: childbereavementuk.org/education

24/07/2025

L IS FOR LIFE!

Life of a Play Therapist Volume 2! Not cleaning my sand tray miniatures this time, (although the girls thoroughly enjoyed doing this)!...

Spray painting my new circle sand trays blue to reflect the water/sky for my new older clients in September!

I knew the masks would come in handy again...

Excuse the mess in the background...summer holidays... Children are feral! 😂

Those interested in finding out more about this amazing modality in the playroom head to https://gb.childtherapytoys.com/blogs/news/what-does-the-beginning-sandtray-therapist-need-to-get-started?utm_campaign=oth_r&utm_source=www.childtherapytoys.com&utm_medium=wi_proxy&utm_content=en_GB to find out more!

23/07/2025

W IS FOR WISE WEDNESDAY!

Wise words from a friend last week 🙌🏼❤️

"You can DO anything,
But not EVERYTHING,
Go easy on yourself"

22/07/2025

D IS FOR DIFFERENT!

I'm trying something new this summer... creative writing!

Thanks to Donna Ashworth I have been inspired to write a creative verse all about forgiveness in my journal prompts recently.

I'm a little bit shy to share 🫣...but I am hoping it may resonate in some way...

Forgiveness... 💚

Forgiveness for me, forgiveness for you Forgiveness is sometimes hard to do

That feeling you get when you can't forgive sits inside you and sometimes feels quite big

Honour your authentic self from within
It's a feeling that is valid, so breathe it in

You don't have to be ready to let it go
Just note that it's there and just go slow

Instead, forgive the rain
on a meant to be sunny day

Forgive the person
who was meant to stay

Forgive the time you didn't show up
You needed that time to fill your cup

Forgive yourself and honour that too
It is the best solution to feel the whole of you. 🌻

21/07/2025

C IS FOR COMMUNICATION

"You can't always think or talk your way to healing."

"Communicating via the body is the language of soothing and healing the nervous system." 🧠

Wise words from Journey to Wellness, a new page I have found that really resonates with my work as a Play Therapist.

Children (and many adults!) often don’t have the words to express what they’re feeling — but their play, their movement, and their body language speak volumes.

In Play Therapy, we meet them in that space. We use the language of the body — through art, storytelling, sensory play, and imagination — to help soothe, regulate, and heal.

Healing isn’t just cognitive — it’s embodied.
Sometimes, the most powerful breakthroughs happen without a single word.

20/07/2025

P IS FOR PREP!

Prepping my new signage for my Play and Creative Arts Therapy clients for September!

Also managed to condense my kit into a smaller wheelie and two bags! Play Therapists out there you'll know the struggles! 🙏

Ever dreaming of my Play Pod Van for the future! 💫💭🚐

19/07/2025

CH IS FOR CHOICE!

🌟 Make some choice TODAY that future you will look back on and say THANK YOU 🌟

I am going to reframe this...

With the 6 weeks holidays stretched out in front of us, filled with potential juggling childcare, holidays, work and prioritising rest....this statement is so very true!

Give yourself some choice ALWAYS in daily moments that the future YOU will thank you for ❤️

What will your choice be? 💬🤔💭

17/07/2025

S IS FOR SELF CARE! 🌿💆‍♀️

Today I am treating myself to a much-needed self-care session—a beautiful massage and Reiki healing. ✨

The perks of now being self employed 🙌🏼

I also brought along a calming read ("101 Ways to Find Calm" by Rebekah Ballagh) thanks Mandy Haller for the recommendation! ❤️

Now in a better headspace after the whirlwind of leaving the teaching profession at the start of the week I spent some time reflecting by gathering all the cards, thank you notes, and kind words I’ve received recently from my work in teaching and play therapy. 💌👩‍🏫

Flipping through them reminded me how meaningful this journey has been—and how a good life truly is a collection of happy moments.

Feeling grounded, grateful, and recharged. 💚

14/07/2025

R IS FOR RESONATE!

This popped up on my news feed navigating transition by Synergetic Play Therapy Institute ....it couldn't be more appropriate for this week in my life as I leave the teaching profession.

Transition is something that many of us are experiencing up down the country as therapists, teachers, clients and children.

By recognising what is coming up for us and the children we see is vitally important to navigate this time of unease and uncertainty.

Definitely worth a watch and will take 5 minutes of your time ❤️

Transitions can be a challenging time for both children and adults, often leading to feelings of being lost or disoriented. In this video, we dive into how t...

12/07/2025

G IS FOR GRATEFUL!

This week I had a rare morning with no client work and all admin up to date so I thought I'd give back with helping prep some very special posters for the SEN school I work in for their carnival float.

This school is pretty amazing and weekly I'm reminded of how special it is working as a Play Therapist in a SEN school.

🌟EVERY STAR SHINES A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY🌟

🌳YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE PERFECT TO BE AMAZING!🌻

Key messages that as therapists we convey on a weekly basis.

Everyone we see SHINES in their own way and PERFECT is a word we don't strive to be ❤️