Dee Costello Email & Phone Number

I have a reputable, professional and extensive background in early childhood education, social work and counselling. As a full member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors my professional practice operates in accordance with the NZAC Code of Ethics. I hold current counselling qualifications, with a commitment to ongoing evidence-based professional development.I am trained to provide Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) first developed in 1947 by Virginia Axline which “maintains the basic assumption that play therapy can be most effective when the therapist does not direct but allows the child to take responsibility for the direction of the play agenda”. Guerney, L 2001. In CCPT sessions children are able to symbolically ‘play out’ past traumas and current interpersonal and intrapersonal challenges such as rage, anxieties, loss and rejection and re-work their faulty internal working models to come to feel comfortable in their skin and be able to interact with others in ways that are more effective. By offering therapeutic unconditional positive regard I support children to discover their personal resources and agency which enable them to see themselves in more positive ways.As CCPT is an age-appropriate and deep modality of therapeutic support, it is not a brief intervention and may need to be in place for a minimum of 20 sessions. As parents are vitally important in children’s lives, I work collaboratively with them and I schedule a parent feedback appointment after each 5 CCPT sessions, so that internal (CCPT stages & themes) and external (behavioural changes) progress can be identified. It is my privilege & joy to provide this special therapeutic process for children in the Footprints playroom.

Listed skills include Child Centered Play Therapy, Counselling For Children And Adolescents, Counselling Support For Parents And Carers, Adolescents, and 4 others.