Download and Submit an Initial Referral Enquiry

Referrals are welcome from schools, parents and carers, local authorities, health and education professionals, social care services, adoption and fostering services, and other professionals working with children and young people.

Whether support is commissioned by a school or local authority, funded through an organisation, or arranged privately by a parent or carer, every referral is carefully considered to ensure play therapy is the most appropriate intervention for the child's needs.

If you're unsure whether play therapy is right for a child, please get in touch to discuss your concerns and explore the most suitable support.

The therapeutic process is tailored to each child’s individual needs. However, a typical intervention follows the steps below.

1. Enquiry received: The referrer (parent, school or organisation) completes and submits the enquiry form for the child or children requiring support.

The enquiry form can be downloaded here. The completed form/s are to be submitted via the online form above or via Leah@livetoplay.co.uk email address.

2. Free initial consultation: A complimentary 30-minute discussion is arranged to explore a referral enquiry, answer questions and determine whether play therapy is the most appropriate intervention.

3.  School set-up (new schools only): For schools new to the service, an introductory meeting is arranged to discuss the provision, complete service agreements, identify a suitable therapy space and introduce the play therapy process.

4. Information gathering: Separate meetings are held with the school and the child's parent or carer to gain a thorough understanding of the child's strengths, experiences and current needs. Parental consent is obtained before therapy begins.

5. Therapeutic intervention begins: Weekly play therapy sessions commence, providing the child with a consistent, safe and confidential space to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences through play and creative expression.

6.  Early review: After the first few sessions, a brief check-in with the school and parents ensures the child has settled into the therapeutic process and remains comfortable engaging in therapy.

7.  Midpoint review: Approximately halfway through the intervention, review meetings are held separately with both the school and parents to discuss the child's engagement, emerging themes and progress towards therapeutic goals. A written interim report is then shared.

8. Ending the therapeutic journey : The final session provides the child with a thoughtful and positive ending, celebrating their progress while preparing them for the conclusion of therapy.

9.  Final review and report: Separate meetings are held with the school and parents to reflect on the intervention, discuss outcomes and consider any recommendations for ongoing support. A comprehensive final report summarises the therapeutic process, progress made and suggested next steps

Fees are transparent and reflect the professional time, expertise and care required to deliver each child's therapeutic intervention.

For private referrals, individual play therapy sessions are charged at £50 per session. This includes the therapeutic session, clinical preparation, record keeping and planned parent/carer review points throughout the intervention.

A written end-of-intervention report is optional and can be provided for an additional £50 where parents/carers would like a more detailed summary of the therapeutic journey, progress and recommendations.

For schools and organisations, services are usually commissioned as a package of therapeutic provision. This may include multiple children accessing play therapy sessions, consultation meetings, review meetings, written reports, preparation and clinical administration. A personalised quotation will be provided following an initial consultation, ensuring all costs are agreed clearly in advance.

Every child is unique, and so is every therapeutic journey. Individuality is at the heart of my practice, and I work closely with children and families to ensure each intervention is tailored to the child's individual strengths, needs and experiences.

Before each session, the therapy room is carefully prepared in exactly the same way to create a safe, familiar and predictable environment. The space offers opportunities to explore a variety of therapeutic approaches and creative mediums, including art, clay, sensory play, movement, music, sand play and therapeutic stories.

During our weekly 40-minute sessions, children are encouraged to choose the resources and activities that feel most meaningful to them. Through play, they are given the opportunity to express thoughts and feelings that can often be difficult to communicate through words alone. My role is to provide a safe therapeutic relationship where children feel accepted, understood and supported as they explore their experiences at their own pace.

Within the therapeutic space, I facilitate, observe and reflect on the child's play, gently helping them make sense of their experiences by bridging play themes with real-life situations. Alongside this, I provide emotional containment, co-regulation and appropriate therapeutic boundaries to help children develop greater self-awareness, confidence and emotional resilience.

As therapy progresses, and where clinically appropriate, I may introduce more structured therapeutic activities, such as therapeutic stories or guided creative visualisations, to further support the child's individual therapeutic journey.

Bringing therapy to a thoughtful and meaningful close is just as important as how it begins. The final session provides an opportunity to celebrate the child's journey, reflect on their achievements and acknowledge the progress they have made.

Most children begin with an initial programme of 15 weekly sessions. Around the halfway point, progress is reviewed with parents and the school. While 15 sessions can be sufficient for many children, some may benefit from a longer-term intervention. Any recommendation to extend therapy will always be discussed collaboratively with parents and the school.