Welcome to PlayPocketGuide - Play therapy access NOW

Hi, and thank you for joining me here. I wanted to introduce myself, and to share why I created this site and how I hope it can help you.

My name's Debbie, and I'm a certified play therapist. I've been doing this work for over 12 years, mostly in schools with children and teens aged 4 to 18. I also run my own private practice, seeing children in their homes — which is especially helpful for those who aren't in the education system, or who are struggling to attend school.

How I got here

I started out as a teaching assistant, where I found so many opportunities to work closely, one-to-one, with children. I wanted to make sure I was doing right by them, so I trained further — first my certificate in play therapy, then my diploma. I opened my own practice straight after qualifying.

I have a particular interest in autism, which began close to home. When my eldest son was about a year old, I could see something was different. Having studied autism, I was fairly sure what it was, but we had to wait for the right time to get a diagnosis. He's 24 now, living with wonderful carers alongside peers his own age. He's still mostly non-verbal and copes with anxiety and frustration, but as he's grown older it's become easier to understand what he needs, and mostly, he's happy. Even though I'd expected the diagnosis, when it actually came it still hit me like a shock — funny how that works, isn't it? My younger son, 22, doesn't have autism, but he's had to learn what it means to grow up with autism in the family — and how that shapes everyone.

Why PlayPocketGuide - Play therapy access NOW exists

This site came from my own experience as a parent — for part of that journey, as a single parent. I quickly realised there wasn't much support out there for what I actually needed. The usual advice was "use your support network" or "join a local group" — but honestly, I didn't want another group. I was tired. My support network worked full-time and helped as much as they could, but that advice just wasn't enough.

What I really needed was something simpler: quick answers, quick solutions, someone to say "I can see what's going on — try this," and someone to say "I've been there. I get it. You're doing a great job, and this is hard."

That's what I want to be for you here. Think of it a bit like having someone in your corner who's already been through it — no hours of Googling at midnight, no wading through ten conflicting opinions and not knowing which to trust. Just one strategy to try. If it doesn't work, there are others waiting.

How it works

If the strategy cards don't quite solve things, the next step is a consultation with me directly, for answers that are more detailed and specific to your child.

There are also logs you can use to track what's working and what isn't. It's so easy to keep repeating something without noticing it isn't helping — or to have a flash of insight and think "I really should write that down," but be too busy in the moment. These logs are quick to access, easy to print, and simple to share with school, so if something's working at home but not there, you can both take the same consistent approach.

I hope these tools solve most of the everyday challenges that come up in childhood. But if the child you're caring for has experienced severe trauma, or you're facing anxiety that isn't easily resolved, or you've researched everything you can think of and you're simply exhausted — that's what the consultation option is for. There's a form where you can share as much detail as you're comfortable with. Please do include a phone number, with area code, in case I need to follow up to give you the best possible help.

Sometimes, in-person therapy really is the best answer, and in those cases I'd always recommend seeking a trauma-informed therapist who works specifically with children or teens. Play therapy is ideal because it moves at the child's own pace, is emotionally safe, and doesn't expect children to put feelings into words that even adults often struggle to express.

Where things stand

Right now, there's a routine cards section: simple tick-box charts with visuals for children who can't read yet. Pop them on the fridge, in a bedroom, or wherever suits, and let the child tick things off as they go. This usually cuts down on arguments and back-and-forth — and for children who don't like being told what to do, having the autonomy to decide for themselves when something's done can make a real difference.

Thank you so much for bearing with me as the site grows. I'm hoping to become the resource I wish someone had handed me back then — something easy to reach for, and a reminder that you are not alone in this.

Parenting is exhausting, truly. It's also wonderful, so don't forget to enjoy them too — everyone tells you they grow up fast, and honestly, I still can't quite believe mine are both adults now.

I really hope you find something useful here, and as the site grows, I'm looking at ways for us to chat more directly too.