Yellow Key Play Therapy

Welcome to Yellow Key Play Therapy

A service dedicated to help children and young people deal with tough challenges in a caring and safe space

What is play therapy?

Children and adults communicate their feelings in different ways. While adults have the capacity to verbalise their feelings and emotions, children find it challenging to put in words their deepest thoughts, feelings, desires, fears and memories. Instead they express them best through play.

Through play children can communicate their needs, fears and desires non-verbaly, making it easier to address emotional and behavioural issues they may be facing.

Play therapy can help children to process difficult emotions, develop coping strategies, and foster growth and healing within a safe and non-judgemental space.

Who is Play Therapy for:

Any child can benefit from Play Therapy and we can work with children from the age of 3 years to early teens.

By engaging in play-based activities, children can explore their emotions, experiences, and challenges in a safe and supportive environment. This process enables them to develop greater resilience and emotional intelligence, paving the way for reaching their full potential. Through play therapy, children can learn coping skills, improve communication, and enhance their problem-solving abilities, ultimately fostering positive growth and development.

Play therapy is helpful for:

  • Anger management

  • Autism

  • Behavioural difficulties

  • Bereavement and loss

  • Bullying/Being Bullied

  • Emotional difficulties

  • Fostered/adopted children

  • Low-self esteem

  • Medical issues and hospitalisation

  • Parental conflict

  • Separation/Divorce

  • Social difficulties

  • Trauma/abuse

About me

Hi, my name is Ana and I am a Certified Play Therapist.

I have over 15 years experience working with children in creches, schools and hospitals. I have always been incredibly passionate about children's well-being, with a particular focus on mental health during their early years.

 I have developed significant insight and experience from working with children in Pre-schools in Portugal, Brazil and Ireland. I also worked in a hospital paediatric unit for some time, providing care and emotional support to young patients. Additionally, I also worked in a creche located in a disadvantaged area in Brazil, offering educational and emotional assistance to children in need.

My work experience influenced my decision to train and specialise in the field of Play Therapy. I trained in Play Therapy with APAC (The Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy) in partnership with NUI Galway. Finding creative and effective ways to help children overcome their emotional and behavioural challenges has been my primary goal ever since.

Qualifications;

  • BA in Yearly Childhood Education

  • Master Degree in Children’s Literature Especialition in Children’s books as Therapeutic resource

  • Postgraduate Cert in Therapeutic Play level 9

  • Postgraduate Diploma in Play and Creative Arts Therapy level 9 trough APAC (Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy,) Acredited by the National University of Ireland Galway

  • Registered member of Play therapy Ireland and I meet their continuous Professional Development standards.

  • Valid Garda Vetting Clearance

  • Ethical standards and clinical Supervision required by Play Therapy Ireland.

  • Continuous CPD

  • Fluent in English and Portuguese

FAQs

Who can refer?

Children under the age of 13 can receive therapeutic services at Yellow Key Play Therapy. Children can be referred by parents, teachers, caregivers, GP’s, nurses, or other relevant professionals who are involved in the child's care and well-being. Parental consent is mandatory.

What happens next?

Upon receiving the referral, the Play Therapist will schedule a meeting with the parents/carers to discuss the reasons for referring the child and address their concerns. This meeting is anticipated to last up to 90 minutes. During the meeting, assessment forms will be completed to gather necessary information regarding the child's emotional and behavioral challenges.

Are sessions confidential?

Yes.

Yellow Key Play Therapy is located on the 5th floor of Nenagh Family Practice. We have restricted access to respect children and parents' confidentiality.

The playroom is a welcoming, safe, and confidential space where your child can openly communicate and address their difficulties without any concerns about being judged or misunderstood.

Sessions are kept strictly confidential. However, in rare cases where there are concerns for the child's safety or someone else, the therapist will adhere to the necessary child protection protocols, ensuring that parents or caregivers are promptly informed and involved in the process.

How many sessions will my child need?

The number of sessions varies for each child based on the complexity of the presenting difficulties.

Generally I recommend a block of 12 sessions and hold a review meeting around session 7/8 to discuss the child’s progress and whether or not further sessions are required.

Please note that, like any form of therapy, problems will not disappear or "be fixed" by a set date. It is important to understand that healing and progress take time, and each child's journey is unique.

How long do the sessions last?

Sessions are 45 minutes long and are typically scheduled once a week on the same day and time for consistency.

How much it will cost?

Please contact Ana, for more information about fees.

At Yellow Key Play Therapy, we offer lower-cost services for people in financial need or with special circumstances. Please contact us for more information.