Donna Stone

I believe that every person deserves to feel seen, heard and accepted. Whether I am working with a child, an adult or a family, my aim is to create a warm, compassionate and non-judgemental space where you can explore your experiences at a pace that feels right for you.

My background in education, family support and therapeutic practice has shaped my belief that relationships are central to emotional wellbeing and lasting change. I have worked with children, young people and adults in a variety of settings, and these experiences continue to inform my person-centred, holistic and integrative approach.

I have a particular interest in attachment, trauma and the ways our early experiences continue to influence us throughout life. Supporting children has taught me that, as adults, we often carry younger parts of ourselves that also need understanding, compassion and care. This perspective underpins all of my work.

As an Advanced SandStory Therapist, Trainer and Clinical Supervisor, I value the role of creativity in therapy. Sometimes words are enough; at other times, creative approaches can help us express and understand experiences that are harder to put into language.

Finding the right therapist is important. I welcome the opportunity to have an initial conversation so that together we can decide whether I am the right person to support you.

I offer play therapy for children and relational creative therapy for adults. My work is grounded in person-centred values and informed by attachment, trauma and integrative approaches. Rather than applying the same model to everyone, I endeavour to offer a bespoke therapeutic experience that reflects your individual needs, strengths and circumstances.

Children naturally communicate through play, so I use play, SandStory, art, storytelling and other creative approaches to help them explore emotions, process difficult experiences and develop resilience. My experience with children is wide ranging.

Alongside my work with children, I support adults with a range of issues, including anxiety, bereavement and loss, relationship difficulties, life transitions, the impact of earlier experiences and feeling stuck or overwhelmed. Therapy offers a space to make sense of your experiences, strengthen self-understanding and discover new ways of moving forward.

I am licensed to deliver Parent Child Attachment Play (PCAP), Baby Bonding and Heart to Heart, all of which focus on strengthening relationships between children and their parents or carers. These approaches reflect my belief that healing often happens within safe, attuned relationships.

As an Advanced SandStory Therapist, I can also offer SandStory where it feels appropriate. There is no expectation to be creative or artistic; creative methods are simply another way of expressing thoughts and feelings when words are difficult to find.

Above all, I see therapy as a collaborative relationship. My hope is that you will experience therapy as a place where you feel genuinely listened to, respected and supported, enabling you to make sense of your experiences and move towards the changes that matter to you.

The first session is an opportunity for us to begin getting to know each other and to explore whether we feel we could work well together. Finding the right therapist is an important part of the therapeutic process, and I believe that the relationship we build together is central to creating meaningful change.

We will spend time exploring what has brought you to therapy, what you hope for from our work together, and what you would like therapy to offer you. I will also share more about how I work, my approach and the ways we might use our sessions, including talking, reflection and creative approaches where these feel helpful.

We will create a shared understanding of how we will work together, including practical aspects such as session times, boundaries, confidentiality and the structure that will support our therapeutic relationship. This provides a safe and consistent foundation while allowing space for the work to unfold naturally.

The first session is also a chance for you to ask questions, get a sense of who I am as a therapist, and consider whether my way of working feels right for you. Equally, I will be considering whether I am the right person to support you. Therapy is a collaborative process, and taking time to establish a good therapeutic relationship is an important part of the journey.