Sarah

Mrs Sarah Yiannaki

Registered Play Therapist

“I am a certified Play Therapist and SandStory Therapist, helping children and young people to work through past trauma and emotional difficulties. I use a range of play and creative arts to enable them to express themselves in whatever way feels right for them. I work in settings and in private practice.”

About Me

I understand that children and young people often find it hard to voice big feelings or past hurts. As a certified Play Therapist and SandStory Therapist, I offer a warm, creative space. Through methods like SandStory Therapy, I help children navigate their emotional world. This gentle approach allows them to express themselves naturally, making sense of feelings when words are difficult. I aim to support their unique journey towards emotional understanding.

Approach

Sessions begin by following the child’s curiosity, using playful tasks and sand-based scenes so they set the pace and tell their story in ways that suit them. I work from my Bedford practice and in community settings, keeping sessions predictable yet flexible so anxious, withdrawn or school-avoidant young people can feel safe to explore difficult memories. Between sessions I reflect on themes and offer practical, parent-focused suggestions to support changes at home and school. This approach often helps families who want steady, gentle progress.
Contact Sarah

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic Information

Services

Services Offered:

  • •
    Play Therapy

    A therapy for children that uses play as a natural form of communication, allowing them to express feelings and process difficult experiences.

    Learn more about Play Therapy
  • •
    Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy designed for teenagers, using age-appropriate methods to address issues like anxiety, identity, peer pressure, and family conflict.

    Learn more about Adolescent Therapy
  • •
    Child / Adolescent Therapy

    Therapy for children and teenagers using age-appropriate methods, such as play, art, or adapted talk therapy, to address emotional and behavioural difficulties.

    Learn more about Child / Adolescent Therapy

Works With:

  • •Adolescents
  • •Children
  • •Parents

Area of Expertise

Scope of Practice:

  • •
    Abuse

    Emotional, physical, or sexual mistreatment by another person that causes lasting psychological harm and disrupts a person's sense of safety.

  • •
    Anxiety

    Persistent worry, nervousness, or fear that is disproportionate to the situation and interferes with daily functioning.

    Learn more about Anxiety
  • •
    Relationship Issues

    Difficulties in romantic relationships, including communication problems, trust breakdowns, conflict patterns, or uncertainty about the relationship's future.

    Learn more about Relationship Issues
  • •
    Behaviour or Conduct Issues

    Persistent patterns of defiant, aggressive, or rule-breaking behaviour in children or adolescents that significantly disrupt home, school, or social life.

  • •
    Learning or Development Difficulties

    Conditions that affect a person's ability to acquire, process, or apply information, such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, or intellectual disability, impacting education and daily life.

  • •
    School Refusal

    A child or adolescent's persistent inability or unwillingness to attend school, typically driven by anxiety, social difficulties, bullying, or emotional distress.

  • •
    Self-Esteem

    A person's overall sense of their own worth and value. When chronically low, it can drive self-doubt, avoidance, and difficulty in relationships.

    Learn more about Self-Esteem
  • •
    Trauma

    The lasting psychological impact of deeply distressing events, such as violence, abuse, accidents, or disasters, that overwhelm a person's ability to cope.

    Learn more about Trauma

Professional Title:

  • •
    Registered Play Therapist

    A registered therapist who uses play as a therapeutic medium to help children express emotions and process experiences.

Qualifications

Leeds Beckett University

Registrations

PTUK

Play Therapist

Service Area

Kempston Therapy Rooms

In-person

Bedford, Bedfordshire

United Kingdom