annie adair

Annie Adair

Play Therapist & Sandplay Therapist

Degrees & Education

I am a qualified Play Therapist registered with the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT) specialising in psychodynamic, non-directive and child-centred play therapy for children aged 4 to 12. I am also a Sandplay Therapist and take an integrative, non-directive approach that is suitable for children, adolescents, and adults of all ages.

Degrees & Education

  • MSc in Play Therapy [Distinction], Queen Margaret University
  • BA in Applied Consumer Studies [Distinction], Queen Margaret University
  • Diploma in Integrative Sandplay Therapy, Jill Carter Training Ltd [due July 2025]
  • Certificate in Integrative Sandplay Therapy, Jill Carter Training Ltd
  • PostGraduate Certificate in Counselling, University of Edinburgh

 

Further CPD Training

  • Understanding Neurodiversity
  • Revolutionising Trauma Therapy (Babette Rotschild)
  • My Child Lies: What can I do?
  • Difficult Conversations: Responding to Problematic Sexual Behaviour
  • Sandtray: Effectively Re-patterning Autonomic States (Lisa Dion)

My Clinical Practice

Before becoming a therapist, I spent over 25 years working with adults experiencing addiction and/or mental health challenges in both third sector and statutory settings. My journey into play therapy began as a foster carer, where I saw the transformative power of therapeutic play in helping children process complex, often unconscious, emotional experiences.

What united so many of the people I worked with – children and adults alike – was a lived experience of trauma, often rooted in early life. This inspired me to pursue play and sandplay therapy as a proactive way to support client’s development and promote healing. While I am a strong advocate for early intervention, I also believe healing is a lifelong journey, and growth is always possible – at any age.

Since 2019, I have provided one-to-one play therapy in primary schools, supporting children with a range of challenges such as trauma, bereavement, family disruption, social-emotional difficulties and neurodiverse needs. With support from The Promise Scotland, I have also delivered therapy to care experienced children. Since beginning my sandplay therapy training in 2023 I have expanded my work to include adolescents and adults.

My Therapeutic Approach

In play therapy, play is the natural language of the child and toys become their words. Similarly, in sandplay therapy, the sandtray serves as the container for expression, while the miniature figures act as the symbols through which stories and emotions are communicated.

My approach is non-directive and client-centred – allowing children/young people/adults to lead the way at their own pace without pressure, judgement or expectation. This helps to build resilience, express emotions, and to process life experiences in a safe, supportive environment.

I work collaboratively with parents and caregivers, holding an initial consultation before sessions begin with regular check-ins throughout the therapy process. This ensures that therapy remains responsive and aligned with the child’s evolving needs.