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19th December 2018 
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Play therapy and Counselling in West London

My name is Maria Maira Kalpogiannaki and I am an enthusiastic and dedicated professional counsellor and 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 for the past five years. 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 play therapy and counselling 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.


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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  • Shyness, withdrawn behaviour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


    • My Personal Approach

    I support the opinion that children are the future and they deserve an opportunity in leading the 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

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    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:

  • CBT
  • Art therapy
  • Counselling
  • Sand therapy
  • Psychotherapy
  • Music & Movement
  • Dramatic role-play therapy
  • Therapeutic storytelling and story making


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    Location

    My practice is within easy reach of Richmond, Twickenham, Brendford, Teddington, Isleworth, Barnes, East Sheen, Chiswick and Hammersmith.

    We will meet at 40 Lambert Avenue, Richmond, TW9 4QR.

    The venue offers spacious rooms that support the needs of play therapy sessions.

    Play therapy rooms are designed to maximise enjoyment for all children and adolescents.


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