Mara Play Therapy

06/06/2026

A different take on boundaries for PDA Children or (a better way to name it)children with Persistent Drive for Autonomy .

01/06/2026

I was talking to one of my clients just last week about the small moments that feel good. They were noticing that they don’t always feel worried or scared or angry (it can be so easy to feel that those strong feelings are all there is). And then I saw this, which describes those moments perfectly!

We hear the word "trigger" all the time, but have you ever heard of a Glimmer? ✨

If triggers send cues of danger to our brain, glimmers do the exact opposite! They are tiny micro-moments that send cues of safety to our nervous system.

When we train ourselves and the children in our care to look for glimmers—like a beautiful sunset, a warm cup of tea, or a quiet moment of awe—we actively help to:
Cause tiny, positive mood shifts
Evoke inner calm and ease
Strengthen our nervous system over time

Check out my "Little Guide to Glimmers" below to learn more about how spotting these tiny moments of joy can increase our overall well-being! 🧠🌿

25/05/2026

Watching Fresa, our Animal Assisted Play Therapy dog®️, running and playing tag on the beach is such a lovely reminder that play is something deeply natural. 🐾✨

Animals play instinctively. Through play they learn communication, boundaries, trust, confidence, emotional regulation, and connection with others.

Children do exactly the same.

Play is not “just play” for children — it is how they make sense of their world, express emotions, connect with others, process experiences, and develop resilience.

This is why play is at the heart of what we do through both Play Therapy and Animal Assisted Play Therapy®️. Play creates opportunities for children to express themselves, process experiences, build resilience, and feel understood in a safe and supportive way. Animals can bring an added sense of calm, connection, joy, and acceptance that helps many children engage, regulate, and communicate in ways that words alone often cannot.

Sometimes the most meaningful moments happen through movement, laughter, connection, and shared play. 💛
Mara Play Therapy

https://www.forresterplaytherapy.uk/edinburgh-playroom

24/05/2026

The Wee Edinburgh Club is a free membership that connects families across Edinburgh and the Lothians to brilliant local businesses - with exclusive offers, giveaways, and inspiration for places to go and things to do.
You can have a look at their page https://www.thewee-edinburghclub.com

23/05/2026

Movement is so important!! We really need to move away from traditional ways of learning and allow children to move to be ready to learn

What if kids aren’t struggling to focus because they won’t sit still - but because they can’t?

Angela Hanscom highlights that movement is essential for building attention, self-regulation, and readiness to learn. When kids climb, run, and explore, they’re strengthening the very skills they need to focus in the classroom.

Instead of asking for more seat time, maybe we should ask:
👉 Have they had enough time to move?

Read more here: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-real-reason-why-kids-fidget_b_5586265

“In order for children to learn, they need to be able to pay attention. In order to pay attention, we need to let them move!” – Angela Hanscom

16/05/2026

Children often don’t know, don’t have the words or can’t say what’s going on for them.

But they can show us. As this image shows, behaviour is communication.

At Mara we can help children communicate through play. We can support parents to unpick and understand behaviour. We can help foster connection and work with you to develop strategies to support.

14/05/2026

Group Therapy in East Linton. See Flyer for details.

I’m currently looking to fill the remaining spaces in the 5–6 age group for my Small Group Play Therapy pilot running this June in East Linton.

This small therapeutic group is designed for children who may feel overwhelmed, have big emotional reactions, or find group situations difficult to manage.

The group will remain intentionally small, with a focus on regulation through play within a supportive therapeutic environment.

Saturdays in June
The Mart, East Linton

Details in the flyer below.

If you’d like to explore whether this may be the right fit for your child, email to arrange a short initial call:

[email protected]

12/05/2026

When children are highly dysregulated, they can’t process more input, and that includes Words. I love the idea of words costing money while helping a dysregulated child…how are you going to spend your words??