Malahayati Holland

You Don't Need Words to Heal. You Need Someone Who Gets That.

Let's clear something up first: play therapy isn't just for kids. If you're an adult and that surprises you, then good. Keep reading.

Here's the thing about trauma. It doesn't always live in language. Sometimes it lives in the body, in patterns you can't quite name, in reactions that feel bigger than the moment calls for. Talking helps. But talking isn't always enough. That's where creativity comes in, not because you're "artistic," but because imagination and unconscious memories reach places words can't.

What I actually do:

I work with trauma and attachment. Specifically, the early stuff, the experiences from childhood that quietly run the show in adulthood without you fully realising it.

I use play, creative materials, storytelling, storysharing or straightforward conversation, whatever gets you where you need to go.

Sessions are confidential, paced to you, and never rushed.

Why trust me with this?

Twenty-plus years in the field. Started as an educator, became a registered Play Therapist and parenting coach along the way. I've sat with children, parents, and now adults, and the thread running through all of it is the same: connection heals. Play and story aren't extras. They're tools.

What you can expect from me:

No judgment. No pretending I have it all figured out. No performative therapist mask. Just honesty, steadiness, and someone in your corner while you do the hard work of noticing old patterns and choosing something different.

Feeling nervous about starting? Normal. Most people are. You don't have to have this figured out before you walk in.

I'm a registered member of BACP and PTUK, and I practise within their ethical guidelines including my own supervision, because good intentions aren't a substitute for accountability.

Ready to talk? Contact me and let's see if we are a match.

I meet clients in Beeston, Nottingham, where it’s easy to park for free and slip quietly into session without any fuss. For those who prefer to work online or need the flexibility, I also offer video sessions via Google Meet. If you haven’t used it before, that’s absolutely fine: I can send simple step-by-step instructions or talk you through it on the phone. Once we’re set up, we can see and hear each other clearly, creating an experience that feels close to being in the room together.

I work in both English and Indonesian, and I also provide supervision in line with BACP and/or PTUK guidelines. 

For students and trainee counsellors: I offer concession rates to help make regular support more accessible.

There is no obligation for further sessions, but ongoing sessions can be discussed and booked in the session if we both feel comfortable and wish to continue working together. 

Currently I offer supervision via online platforms (Zoom or Googlemeet).  F2F sessions can be arranged if needed. 

Working Across Cultures & Trauma

I'm an experienced psychotherapist specialising in play and creative arts therapy, with a practice built on three things I won't compromise on: ethics, compassion, and cultural sensitivity.

Having worked across Asia and the UK, and within genuinely diverse communities throughout, my approach is holistic and reflective by necessity, not just by preference. Trauma doesn't look the same in every culture, and neither does healing. My clinical work spans trauma (particularly attachment, domestic violence, and sexual violence), relationships, self-esteem, depression, anxiety, and loss.

For Fellow Practitioners: Supervision, Mentoring, and a Place to Think Out Loud (while doing something creative, if you prefer)

I work alongside other practitioners, offering supervision, support, and guidance to counsellors, student counsellors, and those in the wider helping professions. Whatever counselling or psychotherapy model you practise, my aim is simple: help you become the most grounded, capable version of that practitioner.

Supervision currently runs online, via Google Meet.

My approach is creative and integrative, because supervision, like therapy, shouldn't be one-size-fits-all. I'm particularly interested in the relationship itself: the therapeutic alliance we build together, the shared responsibility, the shared goals. This isn't supervision as a box-ticking exercise. It's supervision as a genuine working partnership, one aimed at sharpening the quality of your practice, deepening your learning, stirring your creativity, and protecting the thing that matters most in this work: your own sustainability and resilience.

Let's Talk

If you're curious, start with an informal phone call. No pressure, just a conversation about what you need and what I offer.

One practical note: I always reply. If you haven't heard back within 24 hours (or by the next working day after a weekend), please check your spam folder before assuming I've missed you.

You are welcome to come and meet me or have an online meeting to discuss supervision. I offer a free initial 20 minutes session.  If this feels right for you and your client groups, we can proceed on looking at our supervision contract, which will be reviewed every 6 months.

I prefer to work with supervisees on a long term basis and I will always encourage you to take time to find the right supervisor for you.