Kishti Sheather

My personal and professional commitment to supporting the lives of children and their families is reflected in my continued dedication to therapeutic work and my academic background.

I am an experienced Play Therapist with over 10 years of supervised practice within schools, a Registered Member of The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MBACP) and Graduate Member of The British Psychological Society.

I understand there are times throughout life when additional support is needed. Through Play Therapy I can offer a safe and protected space in which children and young people can process their experiences safely, utilising creative mediums which allow healing to take place. Within this confidential and non-judgmental space, the therapeutic relationship which develops between us will be the strongest indicator of a positive impact from the therapeutic experience.

Individual and Group Play Therapy sessions are for children with a diversity of experiences. These can include a range of emotional or behavioural difficulties, ASD, Asperger’s Syndrome, ADD, ADHD, Anxiety, Bereavement, Disability, Divorce, Illness, Trauma, Witnessing Domestic Violence, Neglect, Physical, Emotional and Sexual Abuse.

I have monthly Clinical Supervision sessions in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework guidelines.

I hold an enhanced DBS certificate. In accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), I am registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

My private practice involves attachment focused interventions of Individual Play Therapy, Group Play Therapy, Clay Therapy and Theraplay Informed Practice Sessions within schools.

Within Individual and Group Play Therapy sessions I create a safe, empathic, and sensitive environment. This allows children to feel co-regulated and secure to explore their emotional landscapes through play and always held in the developing therapeutic relationship.

A play therapy room will contain an array of creative mediums, paint, sand, music, puppets, clay, books, and games.

I am a Certified Clay Therapist and use clay with children, young people, and families. The use of clay and sand are powerful active psychotherapy mediums which work with the child's unconscious in the present moment, allowing them to experience and play through (process) what arises in their creative endeavours and objects.

I am a Foundational Practitioner in Theraplay Informed Practice and offer families relationship support through Theraplay Informed Practice Sessions. A brief introduction of Theraplay follows.

‘Theraplay is a child and family therapy for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement’. We call this “building relationships from the inside out.” (Theraplay Institute) www.theraplay.org

My work is integrative and is influenced by person centred, humanistic and interpersonal neurobiology philosophies.

Qualifications

BA Psychology, UC Berkeley, USA

MA Child Development, Institute of Education, University of London

Post Graduate Diploma in Practiced Based Play Therapy, Academy for Play and Child Psychotherapy, Canterbury Christchurch University

Foundational Theraplay Practitioner, Theraplay Institute USA.

Certified Clay Therapist, Clay Therapy Community, www.claytherapy.co.uk.

Trainee Creative Supervisor (Hope Play Therapy with Jill Carter Training).

Our initial contact will allow us to discuss the issues which are bringing you to seek a therapeutic intervention for your child or family and to determine if I am the right fit for you.

If the decision is made to begin play therapy or theraplay informed practice sessions, we will arrange ideally to meet in person for a parent/carer interview and then finalise the details of weekly meetings.

You are the most important relationship for your child, and your commitment to the play therapy intervention is crucial. I will maintain contact with you throughout the intervention and we will review in the first six-10 weeks and decide if this is a short or long term therapeutic intervention.

Testimonials:

‘Kishti worked in our school supporting a number of children. They had a variety of emotional needs and these needs meant that they struggled to cope with the day to day school life. The work that was completed by Kishti was instrumental in helping these children cope with early childhood trauma and led to the children being able to cope in our setting.

Her liaison with staff and parents was very strong and her commitment to the children meant a lot to them. During our time working together, therapeutic support was well-planned with the long term aim of enabling the children to learn to cope with and manage their feeling and behaviours, keeping themselves safe and making sense of their experiences.

The children in our school benefitted hugely from Kishti’s support and we were very grateful of her help in supporting some of our most vulnerable learners’. (DS Primary Head Teacher)

During this time of Covid-19 restrictions we will review the appropriate safeguarding measures in place.

Trainee Creative Supervisor (Hope Play Therapy with Jill Carter Training).

I am a trainee Creative Supervisor offering supervision to play therapists, and qualified counsellors. Creative supervision allows the opportunity for supervisees to experience supervision which integrates, when appropriate, the use of creative mediums which can include drawing, clay, writing, sandplay, and the use of symbols. The use of creative mediums aims to facilitate and deepen the supervisees reflection and understanding of their client work. I see creative supervision as a safe, open, and dynamic space in which the supervisory relationship is co-created and we can have open and honest discussions of any challenges or ethical issues that may arise. I abide by the BACP Ethical Framework and welcome the opportunity to offer creative supervision in your practice.

As I am working in the capacity of a trainee supervisor, I can offer reduced rates.