Play Therapy with Nina Balachander – Mondays (09:30 – 14:30)

Nina Balachander is a Certified Therapeutic Play Practitioner who works with children (and their families) to overcome difficult emotional or psychological situations that is preventing a child to reach their full potential. Her role includes promoting children's emotional health and well-being and running play and creative arts therapy and social skills groups. She also works alongside her Therapy dog Skye, to provide weekly support to those children that need it.

In play therapy, play and art materials are used as the main way for people to express themselves. Using play in therapy helps people to express themselves in their own way; especially if they are struggling to understand how they are

feeling or are finding it hard to put their experiences into words. Children explore their own creativity and express themselves using media such as: drawing and painting, water and clay, sand tray and miniatures, guided imagery and relaxation techniques, drama and puppetry, poetry, movement and music.

Each session at FLS is 45 minutes long and during this time, a child will be able to play with the wide range of resources that will be made ready for them each week. This toolkit includes: a large array of art and crafting materials, clay, dressing-up and role play props, musical instruments, sand and water, puppets, miniature figures, games, and construction toys. Children will be able to choose freely what they would like to use, and Nina will enter into their play, following their lead. Children can work at their own pace and explore narratives and experiences in the metaphor of the play, without being asked to explain it verbally.