The following article was published in Oswestry Life magazine’s January 2022 edition
(Link to original)
We are welcomed to 16A Church Street, where Obertelli Play Therapy was set up as a therapeutic space for children and young people. Play Therapist Gina Obertelli discusses with us the services available and the aims of her private practice.
Gina originally qualified as a social worker and later trained as a therapeutic practitioner, before qualifying as a Play Therapist at Liverpool Hope University in 2009. She explains that she has always maintained an interest in expanding her skills and continuing her professional development and is now able to offer the following therapeutic services:
Play Therapy
DDP: Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapy
EMDR: Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing
Therapeutic Life Story Work
Filial Therapy.
Gina talks to us about her significant experience working with children and their caregivers, who have experienced trauma and adverse childhood experiences, adding that more children are currently seeking support.
‘I have seen an impact on the mental health of children and young people, following the global pandemic. Children have experienced levels of anxiety and uncertainty as their daily lives and routines were significantly impacted. The pandemic exposed us to fear and a requirement to change the way we once lived, in order to minimise risk.’
‘When children have experienced their own safety and that of their loved ones being in doubt, it can have a profound effect on their mental health and how they are able to relate to themselves and others.’
‘There are also children whose lives have been affected by increased poverty or who have been more at risk of harm, as vital support resources have been compromised.’
Gina explains that this all puts pressure on key services and feels it important to promote the mental health services available.
‘I want to raise awareness of local services in Oswestry. I can consider referrals locally and can accept self-referrals. Where appropriate, I can provide links to organizations or resources in the area, or access to alternative therapeutic workers.’
To give you an idea of what to expect if you were to make an enquiry, Gina can provide an initial consultation and together you can devise a therapeutic plan to move things forward. Gina highlights the importance of children giving their consent to engage in a therapeutic service.
It is imperative that they understand the reasons for the intervention. The primary focus at this stage is to begin to build and develop a therapeutic relationship with the child, as they are the expert in themselves. The key principle of therapy is for a child to feel accepted and free to express and explore their feelings.
Play therapy can offer children the opportunity to play out experiences and to process life events that may have been problematic for them. There are themes in children’s play which can highlight key areas where a child may benefit from further exploration or support. The advantage of therapy is that children cannot get therapy wrong, they can experience mastery through developing skills and the increase in a child’s self-esteem can be evident.
Often children thrive within this designated time, which is at the same day, time and location every week or fortnight. Sessions can be 1 or 1.5 hours, dependent upon the needs of each young person.
‘I work hard to offer the right service and deliver this to each young person and their caregivers; we regularly review therapy to ensure that we are continuing to provide the best support package to each child’.
Gina concludes with a request to please contact her If you feel that there is a service that you may benefit from;
‘I appreciate that when caregivers are seeking support for their children it can often feel overwhelming at a time when you feel the most vulnerable. I endeavor to provide you with clarity, direction and some containment as we embark on the next chapter of the journey.’
