Play therapy in West London
My name is Maira Kalpogiannaki and I am the founder of Play Therapy Foundation. I am an enthusiastic and dedicated professional play therapist, interested in working to support the wellbeing of children and young people of any ability level. I am based in West London and my practice is within easy reach of Richmond, Twickenham, Teddington, Isleworth, Barnes, East Sheen, Chiswick and Hammersmith. I have worked therapeutically with children and adolescents on a part and a full time basis since 2010. I have experience with typically developing children as well as SEND and SEMH individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds.
I am passionate about sharing my psychotherapeutic skills and experiences to promote a brighter future for children and young people. I am committed to providing therapy in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment in which children are free to express their feelings and emotions
I work with both the children and their families on an open-ended basis or for an agreed time period, with the aim of promoting healthier, happier and safer lives.
Areas of expertise
I am confident in helping clients who have experienced difficulties with:
- Stress and Anxiety
- Relationships
- Low self-concept and self-esteem
- Trauma
- Bereavement, loss and separation
- Adapting to new situations (e.g. new school or family set-up)
- Depression
- Making Friends
- Anxiety disorders such us Social Anxiety and Generalised Anxiety disorder
- PTSD
- Overcoming fears and phobias
- Nightmares
- Aggressive behavior or rage
- Shyness, withdrawn behaviour
- Foster care and Adoption
- Low mood and many more
The Approach
I support the opinion that children are the future and they deserve an opportunity in leading their way to happiness. Play is the children's natural habit, through which we experience the world and as a result, we acquire new skills and abilities in order to lead a happy and healthy life. Life however, does not always go as planned! Play Therapy has been supported to be valuable and beneficial in difficult times. Particularly, it has been scientifically proven to facilitate positive changes for everyone involved. A combination of the two major approaches of Play Therapy, which include 'Non-directive play therapy' and 'Directive play therapy', will be used according to circumstances.
Therapeutic play has an objective related to improving the emotional development, behaviour and mental well-being of the child
- PTUK
During sessions, the children will have access to a great variety of materials and activities and will experience all types of play. In particular, the Play Therapy environment will be structured according to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and simultaneously aim to promote the mastery of all seven areas of development which include:
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Physical development
- Expressive arts and design
- Understanding of the world
- Communication and language
- Personal, social and emotional development
After all, the more children play, the more they develop and the more children develop, the more they enrich their play routines and understand the big world that surrounds us all.
Therapies incorporated within the Play Therapy sessions:
- Art therapy
- Sand therapy
- CBT techniques
- Music & Movement
- Dramatic role-play therapy
- Therapeutic storytelling and story making
- Counselling & Psychotherapy techniques
Professional Qualifications
MSc Child Psychology, Kingston University
MA Developmental and Therapeutic Play, Swansea University
BA (Hons) Early Childhood Studies, Gloucestershire University
As a member of PTUK, I am committed to continuous professional development and have obtained diplomas and CPD accreditations in:
- Play Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Psychoanalysis
- Anxiety Awareness
- Equality and Diversity
- Counselling and Psychotherapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
- Bereavement and Grief Counselling
- CBT for Depression, Anxiety, Phobias and Panic attacks
Other Achievements
Certificates in:
- Exploring the world of children’s drawings
- Social Care for Mental Health
- Talking Mats
- Foundation in Safeguarding
- Safeguarding Children
- Paediatric First Aid
- Positive Interactions
- Managing Bullying
- Support Strategies for Behaviour
- PECS (Picture Exchange Communication System)
- Makaton
- Working with Autistic Spectrum Conditions
- Autistic Spectrum Awareness
- CBT for Panic: Cure panic and anxiety attacks
- Consequences of Breakdowns in Attachments
- Enabling children to speak about feelings through sandplay
- Work in a Person Centred Way
- Awareness of Mental Health, Dementia & Learning Disability
- Seizures & Epilepsy
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Health and Safety
Maira is DBS Checked and on the electronic update service.
Professional Memberships and Accreditations
- Play Therapy UK (PTUK) and Play Therapy International (PTI)
- Former member of London Therapy Foundation (LTF)
- Former member of the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT)
- Former member of The International Alliance of Holistic Therapies (IAHT)
- Approved Play Therapy provider for numerous adoption, child and family services.
