Hello, my name is Tijen O’Neill.

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I am a child-centered play therapist and I provide a safe and trusting environment for children to express themselves and make sense of their life experiences through the metaphors of play. My background is in education, and I have over 15 years of experience supporting children and their families in schools. Play therapy is a proven effective approach in supporting a child’s emotional health, and there are strong links between emotional wellbeing and academic attainment. Play therapy is an intervention for children with a variety of difficulties and can promote empowerment, increased self-esteem and resilience.  

 

My therapeutic experience with various client groups between the ages of 4 and 12 include bereavement, separation and loss, attachment difficulties, anxiety, neglect, abuse, trauma and neurodiversity. Children can choose from a variety of toys such as playdough, sand, Lego, paints and puppets to express themselves. It is through the play and the therapeutic relationship that we build that healing can occur.  

My core theoretical model is person-centered, and I am predominantly non-directive. I am informed by several theoretical approaches including psychodynamic, attachment theory and systemic theories.  

 

Professional status: 

• Play Therapist (British Association of Play Therapists, Professional Standards Authority, BACP Code of Ethics) 

• Professional Indemnity Insurance Cover and Enhanced DBS Clearance  

 

Qualifications 

• MA Play Therapy (Distinction) (University of Roehampton) 

• Postgraduate Certificate in Education Primary (University of Roehampton) 

• BSc (Hons) Sociology 2:1 (University of Surrey) 

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Availability: Tuesdays and Thursdays

Charges: £85 per session

Contact: tijenplaytherapy@gmail.com