About me
Welcome to Play Therapy House — a safe space to play, heal and grow.
My name is Nisha Gohil, and I am a PTUK Certified Play Therapist based in Hemel Hempstead, Watford, St Albans and the surrounding areas. I have nine years’ experience supporting children and families through creative, therapeutic interventions. Outside of my work, I enjoy spending time with my family, including my young daughter, who keeps me well practised in the art of imaginative play!
It is a privilege to be alongside children and the adults who support them, building meaningful connections and creating a safe space during times when things may feel difficult. Attachment and relationship is at the heart of what I do, and believe it is the key to unlocking what may lie beneath for many children.
Having completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy with Play Therapy UK, I am on the Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists, which is accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
I currently work in mainstream schools, SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health) school settings, and with individual clients privately. Throughout my play therapy journey, and in my previous role as a Hidden Harm Worker, I witnessed first-hand how experiences in a child's life—big or small—can have a significant impact on their emotional wellbeing, relationships and behaviour. I have also completed training in Therapy with Adopted Children which has strengthened my trauma informed approach.
I am registered with the Disclosure and Barring Update Service (DBS) and hold appropriate professional insure. I adhere to GDPR standards of practice and attend regular clinical supervision. These documents as well as my Safeguarding and Safe Touch policy are available on request.
I am passionate about helping children feel understood, valued and accepted for who they are. Through the power of play and a trusting therapeutic relationship, children can begin to explore their emotions, make sense of their experiences and develop a deeper understanding of themselves.
My Approach
Every child brings their own personality, strengths and life experiences, so no two therapeutic journeys are the same. My practice is trauma-informed and attachment-focused, recognising that relationships and early experiences shape a child's emotional wellbeing, behaviour and capacity to learn.
I use a combination of child-led, non-directive and directive play therapy throughout the therapeutic process, adapting my approach to meet each child's individual needs.
In child-led sessions, the child decides how they would like to use the space while I provide a warm, accepting and emotionally safe relationship. By carefully observing, reflecting and responding to their play, I help children explore and make sense of feelings and experiences that may be difficult to express with words. Through play, children also have opportunities to experience success, confidence and a sense of control. These moments of mastery help build self-belief, resilience and new ways of coping, supporting emotional healing over time.
Alongside this, I may introduce guided therapeutic activities when these are likely to benefit the child's needs. These could include activities that help children to develop emotional literacy, understanding the brain, recognising triggers, exploring significant life experiences, and building practical emotional regulation and coping skills. An example of this could be playing a game or creating a story that helps children explore something they are finding difficult.
I believe that supporting a child also means supporting the adults around them. Regular review meetings with parents and carers provide opportunities to share progress, reflect on therapeutic themes and explore practical strategies that strengthen attachment, support emotional regulation and promote consistency between home and school.
Where appropriate, I also work collaboratively with teachers and other professionals involved in a child's care. Working together helps create a consistent, joined-up approach that supports the child's wellbeing across the different environments in which they live, learn and grow.
