Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

— Brene Brown

To understand is to invent.”

— Jean Piaget

The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.”

— CARL ROGERS

To understand is to invent.”

— Jean Piaget

When we focus on the problem, we lose sight of the child”

— Garry Landreth

Toys are children's words and play is their language"

— Gary L.Landreth

Play is a child's natural medium for self-expression"

— Virginia Axline

The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love."

— Bruce D. Perry

The greatest gift we can give children is the space to explore their inner world through play."

— Violet Oaklander

Children often express feelings in play that they cannot say in words."

— Garry Landreth

A child’s play is their reality."

— Violet Oaklander

It is in playing and only in playing that the individual child or adult is able to be creative and to use the whole personality, and it is only in being creative that the individual discovers the self."

— Gary L.Landreth

Supporting Your Young Persons Emotional Journey Through 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. 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.
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Services

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
  • Supporting understanding of cultural and religious identities
  • Navigating diversity, inclusion, belonging, and social integration
  • Making sense of cultural family expectations
  • Managing and expressing emotions in a healthy way
  • Reducing anxiety and fear
  • Coping with sadness and depression
  • Enhancing communication and interaction skills
  • Building and maintaining friendships
  • Developing empathy and understanding others
  • Building self-worth and self-acceptance
  • Overcoming shyness and social anxiety
  • Encouraging independence and self-reliance
  • 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
  • Addressing aggressive or defiant behaviour
  • Reducing impulsivity and hyperactivity
  • Improving attention and focus
  • Processing traumatic experiences
  • Coping with loss and bereavement
  • Healing from abuse or neglect
  • Improving parent-child relationships
  • Facilitating better communication within the family
  • Addressing family conflicts and changes (e.g., divorce, relocation)
  • Coping with academic stress and pressures
  • Addressing school refusal or avoidance
  • Improving classroom behaviour and performance
  • Providing tailored support for children with ADHD, autism spectrum disorders, and other special needs
  • Enhancing adaptive and functional skills
  • Promoting social and emotional development
Refer a Young Person

Welcome!

Certified Play & Creative Arts Therapist

My name is Ateka Azam. I am a Creative Arts Therapist based in Edinburgh, specialising in working with children and adolescents. I offer a safe, supportive space for 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.

Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists

Get in Touch

Please contact me for a no-obligation chat about creative arts therapy, how I work, and to find out if  creative therapy would suit your child or young person. I’m here to help and answer any questions you may have.

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