Linden Tree Play Therapy
My Background
Hello
I’m Clare, a BAPT registered play therapist. I provide play therapy for children and young people in south-west London.
Before completing my Masters in Play Therapy, I spent over 20 years working with children and families in a wide range of roles – from teaching and mentoring in educational settings, to nannying and Playwork in the community.
My belief in play therapy is rooted in years of observing children at play and witnessing how purposeful and powerful it can be. It resonates with me because of the profound respect it holds for the child – as the expert in their own inner world.
This approach doesn’t seek to fix or impose; it trusts the child’s own capacity to heal and builds the conditions for that healing to happen. At the heart of this work is the relationship between therapist and child – one in which the child can feel listened to, valued, and delighted in.
How I Work
My background in child development spans multiple disciplines and has given me a deep understanding of how children think, feel, and behave – alongside a genuine respect for the unique ways in which they communicate and make sense of their world.
My work is child-centred and non-directive, and I work intuitively and creatively, following each child’s lead. I also work closely with parents and other key adults in a child’s life – supporting them to deepen their understanding of their child and nurture their connection.
Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of supporting children through a range of challenges – including parental separation, anxiety, low self-esteem, bereavement, medical conditions, and disability. I also have particular experience working with non-speaking children, children on the autism spectrum, and children with developmental delay.
I am committed to safe and ethical practice, guided by the professional standards of BAPT. I engage in regular clinical supervision, maintain full professional indemnity insurance, and hold a current enhanced DBS certificate.
“Why Linden Tree?”
The linden tree has been a symbol of healing, shelter, and sanctuary across centuries of folklore. Its heart-shaped leaves provide the perfect emblem for a practice rooted in warmth and care – a space where children can feel safe, supported, and free to be themselves.
Qualifications
- MA Play Therapy
- Froebel Certificate in Early Childhood
- Waldorf Diploma in Early Childhood Pedagogy
- PGCE (Early Years)
- BA (Hons) Childhood & Society
- Paediatric First Aid
“Deep meaning often lies in childish play.”
Johann Friedrich von Schiller
“Play is the child’s symbolic language of self-expression and can reveal (a) what the child has experienced; (b) reactions to what was experienced; (c) feelings about what was experienced; (d) what the child wishes, wants, or needs; and (e) the child’s perception of self.”
Garry L. Landreth