Martine L Pilling, Child and Adult Psychotherapist Counselling, Psychotherapy & Counselling Supervision Services
Tongham, nr Farnham, Surrey

Counselling Children, Teenagers and Young People. art

Integrative Child & Young Person Therapist

"Healing isn't just about talking; it’s about being seen, heard, and held in a space of radical kindness."

Sometimes, the world can feel too big or too loud for a young person to navigate alone. Whether it is the weight of past experiences or the confusing hum of daily anxiety, I provide a dedicated, empathic sanctuary where children and young people can simply be.

My practice is built on the belief that every individual deserves a soft place to land. I offer a trauma-informed environment rooted in deep empathy, where we move at your pace. I don't believe in a 'one-size-fits-all' approach; instead, I work integratively, blending different therapeutic tools to meet the unique emotional needs of each person I sit with.

How I Work: Because traditional "talk therapy" can often feel intimidating or reach its limits, I incorporate Play and Creative Therapy. For children and adolescents, play is their first language. By using art, sand, and play, we can:

  • Explore complex feelings that are hard to put into words.

  • Process difficult or traumatic memories in a way that feels safe.

  • Regulate the nervous system through creative expression.

  • Build resilience and self-compassion.

My goal is to provide more than just "treatment"—I aim to provide a transformative experience of receiving genuine kindness and space. Together, we will work to untangle the knots of the past and create room for a brighter, more confident future

 

Therapist for Early Childhood & Creative Expression

"In the world of a child, play is the most powerful way to speak."

For a young child, big emotions can feel like a stormy sea. When a child is struggling with the effects of trauma, anxiety, or big life changes, they often don’t have the words to tell us what hurts. I provide a warm, empathic sanctuary where children can explore, process, and heal through the natural languages of play and creativity.

 

My approach is deeply integrative and trauma-informed, designed to meet your child exactly where they are. I believe that healing begins with a foundation of radical kindness and consistent "space"—a place where a child feels truly safe enough to let down their guard.

 

A Creative Approach to Healing

In my practice, the "toy box" and the "sand tray" are just as important as the therapist’s chair. Through Play and Creative Therapy, I help children:

  • Externalize Big Feelings: Using sand, symbols, and art to "act out" stories that are too difficult to speak aloud.

  • Process Trauma: Gently working through past experiences in a way that respects the child’s pace and emotional safety.

  • Build Emotional Literacy: Helping little ones understand the "sensations" in their bodies and turn them into manageable feelings.

  • Find Calm: Developing creative tools for self-regulation and resilience.

I am here to walk alongside you and your child, offering a compassionate witness to their growth. Together, we create the room they need to move from a place of distress to a place of play, wonder, and security.


Child counselling issues may include:-

- Family breakdown
- Divorce
- Adoption and fostering
- Bereavement and loss
- Anger and aggression
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- Difficult or Challenging behaviour
- School refusal
- Anxiety
- Self-Harm
- Low mood or low confidence
- Withdrawal
- Sleep difficulties
- Eating disorders
- Gender Dysphoria
- Sociability difficulties
- Bullying
- Sexual, physical or emotional abuse
- Trauma
- Attachment difficulties
- Neurodevelopmental disorders

- Minor brain injury
- Child Chromosome disorders
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Opposition Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Autistic Spectrum Condition/Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASC/ASD)

- Rejective Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD)
- Asperger's Syndrome
- Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA)

 

  • "Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You."
  • "Why fit in when you were born to stand out?"

  • "Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."  Dr Seuss

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