The Heart Behind
Healing Hearts Play Therapy
Who am I?
Hello!
I’m Zoe. I have worked with children for more than eighteen years, first in education and later in therapeutic practice. I qualified as a registered play therapist in 2019 and hold a postgraduate qualification. I am registered with Play Therapy UK and access regular supervision and ongoing training to support safe, effective practice.
My experience includes supporting children in schools, residential homes, foster care, local authorities and charities. I have also worked within the NHS and a national children’s residential care organisation. These roles gave me a deep understanding of how children communicate through behaviour, how big feelings show up in day‑to‑day life and how important it is for families to feel supported too.
In 2022, I opened my private practice so I could dedicate my time to helping children and their families through private referrals. This work allows me to offer the steady, relational support that children need and the guidance parents often wish they had sooner.
Every child brings their own story. Every parent brings their own worries and hopes. It is a privilege to support both.
Zoe O’Connor
Founder, Healing Hearts Play Therapy
I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
My Why
From the very beginning of my career, I felt a natural connection with children. I notice the small things they communicate without words, the shift in their energy, the way they use play to show feelings they cannot yet explain.
I chose play therapy because it gives children a safe, gentle way to express their inner world. Children often tell me things through play that they could never say out loud. When a child feels understood and emotionally held, something in them settles. They begin to trust the space, and then they begin to grow.
I also believe that children heal best when the adults around them feel steady and supported. This is why my work will always include parents. When you feel guided and reassured, your child feels it too.
My why is simple. I want children to feel safe enough to show who they are, and I want parents to feel supported enough to walk with them.
How I Work
My approach is warm, relational and grounded in trauma informed, attachment aware practice.
Children use play, art, stories, sensory exploration and imaginative worlds to show what is happening inside. I follow their lead with curiosity and care so they can process feelings at their own pace.
Parents receive support too. We look together at what your child may be communicating, how to respond in ways that help them feel secure and how your own wellbeing fits into the process. Families tell me that having steady, ongoing support makes the biggest difference.
My focus is always on emotional safety, trust and connection. Healing begins there.
What Families Often Say:
Gentle progress they can seeA clearer understanding of their childConfidence in how they support their childA Space Where Families Feel Held
Every family is unique, so I tailor my approach to meet you where you are. I create a warm, accepting space where children feel understood and where parents feel supported, empowered and never judged.
If you would like to begin or have questions, I am here to help you take the next step.