The Purple Elephant Project offers a range of therapeutic services for children and young people, delivered both from our welcoming hub in Twickenham and through subsidised outreach work in schools and the local community.
Children do not always have the words to explain how they are feeling. Our age-appropriate, creative therapies help children express their emotions through the safety of play and creativity. Through therapy, children can develop stronger relationships, increased confidence and self-esteem, improved concentration, and a greater sense of emotional safety. Our work supports children to process trauma, reduce anxiety and challenging behaviours, and feel more able to be themselves at home and at school.
Play therapy is a form of child psychotherapy that allows children to express thoughts and feelings through play rather than words. For children, play becomes their natural language.
Our qualified play therapists provide a safe, consistent and child-led space where children can explore emotions, make sense of difficult experiences and begin to build emotional resilience within a trusting therapeutic relationship.
Art therapy offers children a creative way to express emotions that may feel overwhelming or hard to put into words. Using materials such as paints, chalk, clay and model making resources, children are supported to explore feelings at their own pace.
The focus is not on artistic skill, but on self-expression, reflection and emotional processing within a safe and supportive therapeutic space.
Music therapy uses sound, rhythm and musical interaction as a therapeutic tool to support emotional expression, communication and regulation.
Through listening, playing and creating music, children can explore feelings in a non-verbal and engaging way. This approach can be particularly supportive for children who find traditional talking therapies challenging.
Theraplay® is a playful, attachment-focused therapy designed to strengthen relationships between children and carers.
Theraplay® focuses on four essential qualities: structure, engagement, nurture and challenge. Sessions are active, relational and fun, supporting trust, emotional regulation, self-esteem and connection.
Therapeutic life story work supports children to understand their past in a safe, sensitive and age-appropriate way.
This approach helps children make sense of their experiences, strengthen identity, and develop a more coherent and compassionate understanding of their life story.
Filial therapy is a play therapy-based intervention that actively involves parents or carers in the therapeutic process.
Through guided sessions, caregivers develop a deeper understanding of their child’s emotional world, strengthen relationships and learn therapeutic play techniques that can be confidently used at home to support ongoing emotional connection.
We know how challenging parenting can be, especially when a child is struggling emotionally. Supporting parents and carers is a core part of our work.
Parents and carers are always welcome to drop into our hub or get in touch for advice, guidance or information about our services. Families accessing therapy are offered regular review meetings, practical tools and tailored support, working together to achieve the best outcomes for each child.
Alongside our hub-based services, our herd works within schools and community settings to improve access to therapeutic support.
We offer a range of flexible outreach options and work collaboratively with families, schools and organisations to design support that meets specific needs and helps children receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
We work in close partnership with schools, united by a shared commitment to children’s emotional wellbeing.
By offering tailored therapeutic services and creative interventions, we help schools create safe, nurturing environments where children can thrive. Through open communication and collaboration with school staff, we ensure children receive the right support at the right time, building resilience and emotional confidence.
We have strong, trusted partnerships with local authorities and adoption agencies, working collaboratively to support children and families with additional needs.
Our tailored therapeutic services respond sensitively to complex circumstances, providing consistent, child-centred support that strengthens outcomes for children and families across the wider community.
