About me
Emily Burns - Child Therapist
In 2005 I worked In Sri Lanka delivering therapeutic creative workshops to children and young people who had been directly affected by the Asian tsunami. This led me to further my therapeutic work on my return with qualifications in Child Psychotherapeutic Counselling. I then went on to work as a child therapist in both primary and secondary schools and for various charities and organisations including:
- Kids Company
- YMCA
- PACT Adoption Agency
- CLEAR Trauma Therapies
- Psychology Associates
- The Priory CAMHS service
I am trained to work creatively with children and young people, responding to their needs and interests. I use art, play, yoga, mindfulness, visualisation, movement, sandtray and other art forms where appropriate to help children and young people express what is difficult to communicate through words.
A positive, trusting relationship is at the heart of effective therapy but for those that would like further information on my particular approach I draw on different theories and models including Attachment Theory, Neuroscience, Somatic Trauma Therapy, Sensory Processing, CBT, Mindfulness, Creative Arts Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Person Centred Therapy, Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy and Theraplay.
I am experienced in working with most areas of child and adolescent mental health and have additional specialist training and knowledge in working with adopted and fostered children, attachment, loss and with parents and children to improve relationships.
I am registered with BUPA for those with insurance.

Qualifications
I trained at the well known Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education in London run by the acclaimed therapist, trainer and author Margot Sunderland.
- PGDIP Child Psychotherapeutic Counselling
- PGDIP Child Counselling
- PGDIP Therapeutic and Educational Applications of the Arts
- PGCERT Child Counselling Using the Arts
- PGCERT Assessment and Action Planning
- Theraplay Level One
- Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy Level one and two