Our Team

Esther Fernandez is a play therapist who works with children, adolescents and families with a wide range of issues and problems including: anxiety; depression/low mood; stress; abuse/neglect; anger/aggresssion; autism spectrum disorder; bereavement/grief; eating and body image; gender and sexual identity; life transitions; phobias; self-harm; and many more issues. 

Esther has particular experience working with children with severe additional support needs including those who are non-verbal. She regularly works with children in foster care, and with anxiety, bereavement, emotional dysregulation, abuse, and trauma.
 

Esther's way of working

Esther is passionate about working with children and their families. She offers Child Centred Play Therapy which enables children to make sense of the world around them and process trauma or any emotional difficulties using a range of toys and art materials. She always adapts her approach to meet the individual needs and preferences of each child. Esther works in a systemic way, meaning that in addition to working with the child, she also helps the adults around them to understand the child's trauma/emotional issues. She therefore works very closely with schools and families to facilitate positive change. Filial Therapy is an important part of this approach as it focuses on attachment and building relationships with families or main carers.  

Esther is fluent in Spanish and is happy to work with clients who feel more comfortable speaking in this language.
 

Esther's background and training

Esther has worked for more than 20 years with children with disabilities in different settings/roles such as in schools; family centres; in an after school clubs as both a manager and a director; and in the NHS, as a nurse assistant within a brain injury unit. 

Esther has a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Play Therapy from Leeds Beckett university and a BA in Childhood Practice from The University of Edinburgh. She has also done Intensive Filial Therapy Training at the Tracie Faa-Thompson, Centre for Family Enhancement and Play Therapy.

Esther is an accredited member of the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT).
 

Esther's fee

Esther charges £70 a session for self-funding clients. She also works with clients referred via their employer/organisation – for further details, please visit First Psychology Assistance.