Vivienne

Mrs Vivienne Gilbert

Child Psychotherapist

“I work therapeutically with children, using play as the therapy medium, to help them overcome or work through traumas and challenges.”

About me

I help children navigate difficult feelings and life's challenges by using play as a natural way to communicate. In our sessions, children can explore their experiences in a safe, creative space. This allows them to express what's hard to put into words, process big emotions, and build resilience. I aim to build a trusting connection, helping each child gain confidence and new ways to cope with their world.

Approach

Play guides how I listen, so children lead at their own pace through puzzles, stories and small rituals that reveal what feels unsafe or overwhelming. I observe, reflect and introduce new and nurturing ways to interact and play, to rebuild a sense of safety. Families coping with loss, anxiety, transitions or past harm often find this way of working helpful.
Contact Vivienne

Ask a quick question or arrange a time to meet.

Basic information

Languages:

English

Fees:

Direct payment

In-person

Services

I provide sessions within schools, also working directly for schools or other funding providers.

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

Works With:

  • Adolescents
  • Children
  • Organisations
  • Parents
  • Individuals
  • Families
  • Groups

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.

  • Life Transitions

    Major life changes, such as relocation, retirement, parenthood, or career shifts, that disrupt routine and require psychological adjustment.

    Learn more about Life Transitions
  • 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.

  • Grief & Loss

    The emotional, physical, and psychological response to the death of a loved one or another significant loss.

    Learn more about Grief & Loss
  • Child Psych & Diagnostic Assessment

    Formal assessment of a child's psychological, cognitive, or emotional functioning to identify conditions and guide appropriate support.

  • Family Issues

    Difficulties within the family system, including conflict, communication breakdown, blended family tensions, or intergenerational patterns, that affect individual and collective well-being.

Professional Title:

  • Child Psychotherapist

    A psychotherapist specialising in the emotional and psychological needs of children, often using play and creative techniques.

Credentials

Registrations

PTUK

Certified PLAY Therapist

Qualifications

Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy

Leeds Beckett University

Year: 2019

Service Areas

Soothing Souls Play Therapy

In-person

Wootton

Bedford, Bedfordshire

United Kingdom

Wootton, Bedford, United Kingdom