The Symbols Studio
Where every play tells a story
Holistic & Integrative Play Therapy and Trauma- Informed Support for children in South East London.
I offer evidence-informed, child-led creative therapy tailored to your child’s unique pace and needs.
Why The Symbols Studio?
People often ask why I named this The Symbols Studio rather than a clinic or playroom. The answer lies at the heart of how children heal.
A Space of Creative Freedom
A studio is a place of creation. Here, your child is the artist, builder, and storyteller. With access to sand trays, miniatures, art supplies, and puppets, they have complete freedom to choose how to express themselves—with no right or wrong answers.
Toys Are Words, Symbols Are Stories
Children rarely express emotional pain in plain words. Instead, they use symbols. A plastic lion might represent a scary feeling; a buried figure might represent a hidden hope.
By playing freely, children safely externalize what is happening inside. I don’t force them into a rigid box—I give them a studio to shape their own path to healing.
A Trauma-Informed, Nervous System Approach
To support this process, my practice is grounded in advanced Developmental Trauma training with Beacon House, I look beyond external behavior to help your child find felt safety, self-regulation, and healing through sensory play.
My Story
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Who am I
My name is Leanne, and I created The Symbols Studio to give children in South East London a safe, gentle space to express what words often cannot. As a registered Play Therapist, my passion is helping young people navigate big emotions, trauma, and life changes at their own natural pace.
At The Symbols Studio, I believe every child heals at their own pace. Through a blend of creative play therapy techniques, I offer a gentle window into your child’s world—providing the safe space and tools they need for lasting growth and emotional well-being.
To deeply support children navigating complex emotional landscapes, I have completed advanced training in Developmental Trauma with Beacon House Therapeutic Services. This ensures my practice is fully trauma-informed, helping your child’s nervous system feel safe, settled, and supported alongside their creative expression.
My Qualifications & Professional Membership:
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Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy (Level 7) – Certified Play Therapist (PTUK Registered)
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Postgraduate Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills (Level 7) – Certified Therapeutic Play Practitioner
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BSc (Hons) in Psychology with Counselling
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Fully insured, holds an Enhanced DBS check, and adheres to the PTUK Ethical Framework.
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Certificate in Developmental Trauma for Professionals - Beacon House
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Registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK)
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Also on the Professional Standards Authority Register
Being fully registered with PTUK, the Professional Standards Authority, and the Play Therapy Register isn't just a requirement—it's my commitment to you. It gives parents and schools complete peace of mind that my practice is held to the highest clinical, ethical, and child-safeguarding standards at all times.
In my therapy room, a bridge is never just an ornament. It represents the journey I take with every child—crossing from confusion to clarity, from big feelings to understanding. At The Symbols Studio, I provide the safe structure for that crossing to happen at the child's own pace.
What does "Trauma-Informed" mean for your child?
You might hear the term "trauma-informed" and wonder what it means in practice.
Simply put, being trauma-informed means I look beyond a child's external behavior to understand what their nervous system is trying to tell us. Rather than asking "What is wrong with this child?", a trauma-informed therapist asks, "What has this child experienced, and how can we help them feel safe again?"
By reframing behavioral challenges through a nervous system and developmental trauma lens, we move away from labels and focus on what your child truly needs to heal. Whether your child is dealing with a major life disruption (like grief or separation) or a buildup of daily anxiety, a trauma-informed approach ensures their therapy is handled with the utmost care.
🛡️Prioritizing Felt Safety & Emotional Regulation:
A child cannot process big feelings until their body feels completely secure. In the playroom, I prioritize emotional regulation and felt safety, ensuring every session moves at your child's pace—never pushing them to talk or play through things before they are ready.
🪴Understanding the Nervous System:
Big meltdowns, sudden anger, or extreme withdrawal aren't "naughty behavior"—they are natural fight, flight, or freeze responses to stress. I help your child recognize these feelings in their body and gently learn how to regulate their nervous system.
🎨Sensory & Somatic-Aware Interventions:
Children don't always have the words to describe what they are feeling inside. When words are not enough, I utilize sensory and somatic-aware play interventions—such as clay, sandtray, and tactile media—allowing them to process deep emotions through physical play and sensation.
🕊️Empowerment & Control:
Trauma and big life shifts often leave children feeling powerless. In our studio, your child is given choices, agency, and a sense of control over their play, helping them rebuild self-confidence from the inside out.
👁️A Gentle, Whole-Child Lens:
Guided by my advanced training in Developmental Trauma with Beacon House, I hold a deep understanding of how early experiences shape emotional development. This allows me to adapt my approach so your child feels deeply held, understood, and supported as they heal.
How Play Therapy Helps
Play therapy gives children a safe, natural language to explore, process, and overcome big challenges. Every child responds differently, but play therapy is particularly effective in supporting:
💙 Emotional & Anxiety Support
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Big, overwhelming feelings (frequent meltdowns, intense anger, or frustration)
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Anxiety, worries & fears (separation anxiety, school refusal, panic)
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Low mood & withdrawal (sadness, quietness, or loss of interest in favorite activities)
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Low self-esteem (lack of confidence, negative self-talk, perfectionism)
🏡 Life Changes & Family Transitions
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Family shifts (parental separation, divorce, or blending families)
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Bereavement & loss (grieving a loved one, pet, or major life change)
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Moving & transitions (starting a new school, moving home, welcoming a sibling)
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Illness or medical trauma (navigating chronic illness or hospital stays)
🏫 Social & Behavioural Growth
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Friendship & social struggles (difficulty making friends, sharing, or peer conflict)
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School stress (classroom anxiety, academic pressure, or difficulty fitting in)
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Impulsivity & regulation (trouble self-soothing or staying focused)
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Attachment & trust (building secure connections with caregivers)
My Approach
As a registered Play Therapist (PTUK), I use a child-centered approach. Your child is at the heart of everything we do, and every step is taken at their own pace so they feel safe and supported.
Instead of a "one-size-fits-all" model, I tailor sessions using a flexible blend of:
🎨 Creative arts & storytelling to express complex feelings
🏰 Sandplay & symbolic miniatures for gentle, non-verbal processing
🌿 Trauma-informed & nervous system support (informed by advanced training with Beacon House) to prioritize felt safety and regulation
🤲 Therapeutic clay & movement for tactile self-soothing and emotional release
🎭 Child-led play & roleplay allowing them to explore relationships freely
🧭 Guided activities when they need a little extra structure
This adaptable approach ensures your child feels deeply understood as they heal and grow.
A Peek Inside My Playroom
Every child communicates differently, which is why my space is filled with a rich variety of creative and therapeutic tools. Here are just a few key elements from my play therapy toolkit—each thoughtfully chosen to help your child explore, express, and heal at their own pace.
Sandtray & Symbols
Sand offers a rich, tactile space where children can build physical worlds for complex feelings, memories, and inner experiences that don't have words yet. By placing figures and shaping the sand, kids bring their inner stories to life, gaining perspective and processing big emotions safely at their own pace.
Dollhouse & Role play
Children naturally process their world through pretend play. Stepping into a dollhouse or role-playing scenario gives kids a comfortable distance to safely work through family dynamics, friendship hiccups, and big everyday moments—helping them build empathy, gain perspective, and practice real-life skills.
Creative Arts & Making
Big emotions don't always fit into neat sentences. Art allows children to externalize what’s happening inside them—transforming worries, sadness, or excitement into something they can see, touch, and safely work through at their own pace.
Therapeutic Clay & Tactile
Clay gives kids a hands-on, grounding way to express what words sometimes can't. Whether they need to pound out big frustrations, gently mold a new creation, or reshape something entirely, clay offers an immediate physical outlet that helps children self-soothe and feel in control.
Movement & Expressive Dance
Children experience the world through their bodies. Using dance, movement, and playful props like flowing silk fans or ribbons gives kids a joyful, physical way to release trapped energy, explore boundaries, and express big feelings when staying still feels impossible. It’s all about helping them feel rooted, free, and connected in their own skin.
Puppets & Characters
Puppets give children a playful, safe shield to talk about tricky feelings or events that might feel too scary to speak directly. By talking through a character, kids can express secrets, explore fears, and try out new ways of communicating without feeling like the spotlight is directly on them.
Stories
Stories offer a gentle mirror for a child's own experience. Reading about characters facing similar challenges—whether it's anxiety, big changes, or making friends—helps children realize they aren't alone. Therapeutic stories spark meaningful conversations and give kids practical, imaginative frameworks to navigate their own world.
Music & Sound
Music taps into emotions in a way words simply can't. Whether a child is beating out a fast rhythm on a drum to release energy or listening to gentle tones to find calm, sound offers a powerful, intuitive outlet. It helps kids express their internal rhythm, regulate their nervous system, and find their own unique voice.