Toys are children's words and play is their language"
Supporting Your Child’s Emotional Journey
Through Play & Creative Arts Therapy
It can feel difficult seeing your child struggling or unhappy. Knowing they are grappling with frustration, anger, aggression, anxiety, or fear can result in feelings of helplessness as the parent. Play & Creative Arts Therapy offers a compassionate and effective approach to help young people work through these difficulties by fostering their development and healing. In a safe and nurturing environment, children and young people can express themselves, process their experiences, and build essential coping skills. By working together, we can better understand your child’s struggles and create a plan to support them in the best way.
Play & Creative Arts Therapy Can help manage:
Emotional Overwhelm
- Addressing self-harm and unhealthy coping mechanisms
- Managing obsessive thoughts, compulsive behaviours, and anxiety-related conditions (e.g., OCD, phobias)
- Developing healthy strategies for long-term well-being
Identity
- Supporting understanding of cultural and religious identities
- Navigating diversity, inclusion, belonging, and social integration
- Making sense of cultural family expectations
Emotional Regulation
- Managing and expressing emotions in a healthy way
- Reducing anxiety and fear
- Coping with sadness and depression
Social Skills
- Enhancing communication and interaction skills
- Building and maintaining friendships
- Developing empathy and understanding others
Self-Esteem and Confidence
- Building self-worth and self-acceptance
- Overcoming shyness and social anxiety
- Encouraging independence and self-reliance
Developmental Issues
- Supporting children with developmental delays
- Enhancing motor skills and coordination
- Promoting cognitive development and problem-solving skills
Life Transitions
- Adjusting to new siblings or blended families
- Adapting to changes in living situations
- Managing the impact of moving or changing schools
Behavioural Issues
- Addressing aggressive or defiant behaviour
- Reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity
- Improving attention and focus
Trauma and Grief
- Processing traumatic experiences
- Coping with loss and bereavement
- Healing from abuse or neglect
Family Dynamics
- Improving parent-child relationships
- Facilitating better communication within the family
- Addressing family conflicts and changes (e.g., divorce, relocation)
School-Related Issues
- Coping with academic stress and pressures
- Addressing school refusal or avoidance
- Improving classroom behaviour and performance
Additional & Neurodiverse Needs
- Providing tailored support for children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other special needs
- Enhancing adaptive and functional skills
- Promoting social and emotional development
Welcome!
Certified Play & Creative Arts Therapist
My name is Ateka Azam. I am a Play & Creative Arts Therapist based in Edinburgh, specialising in working with children and adolescents. I offer a safe, supportive space for children and young people to explore their feelings, with a deep respect for their unique cultural contexts. My work is child-centred and cultivates healing and growth.
I am a Certified Play & Creative Arts Therapist (National University of Ireland, Galway) registered with Play Therapy UK (PTUK). I am also an experienced Primary School Teacher
(PGDE Edinburgh University). All my clinical work is supervised by a Clinical Supervisor in accordance with PTUK’s standards. I hold a full PVG Disclosure and Professional Liabilities Insurance.
Get in Touch
Please contact me for a no-obligation chat about play and creative arts therapy, how I work, and to find out if creative therapy would suit your child. I’m here to help and answer any questions you may have.
