Child play specialist · Haarlem
Kids don’t talk about what’s hard.
They play about it.
CCPT play sessions for children aged 3–12. Play offers a way to cope with challenges such as moving, anxiety, adjusting to a new school, changes in the family, and grief.
Free 20-minute online intro with parents to discuss your needs
Who is CCPT for?
Difficult emotions
Frequent meltdowns, tears, and anger. Helping your child return to a calm state has become difficult.
The move hit hard
New country, new language — and your child suddenly seems like a different kid.
Fears multiply and become distressing
Your child does not want to be without mum or go to activities — anxiety has started getting in the way of life.
Your child has withdrawn
They have become quieter, answer everything with “fine”, and seem closed off and reluctant to talk.
Changes in the family
A new sibling, divorce, or bereavement: a big event and big feelings.
Signals from school or daycare
Teachers report conflicts or difficult behaviour. Other children do not invite your child to join their play.
You are looking for a way to help your child, which means you are already helping. During a free 20-minute online intro, we can discuss whether play therapy may suit your child.
Why does play work?
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) is a non-directive form of play in which children express themselves as they choose and can process their feelings and life experiences without judgment.
The play specialist does not invent the story, push the child in any direction, or teach. The specialist accepts and follows the child, reflects feelings and actions, and acknowledges the young client’s choices and responsibility.
The University of North Texas Center for Play Therapy classifies CCPT as an evidence-based approach. Research as a whole supports its effectiveness for anxiety and behavioural difficulties. There is less research involving children with PTSD, ADHD, and autism, but it also indicates benefits when the method is part of comprehensive care.
«The focus is on the child, not the problem»
70 years of research and practice
The method’s effectiveness is supported by dozens of controlled studies.
First changes within weeks
A child’s state often begins to settle fairly quickly.
A standard course is 12–24 sessions
That is how long the path to lasting change usually takes.
How it works
Intro meeting
A free 20-minute conversation with adults only, without the child. You explain what is happening and ask any questions. Together we consider whether this approach suits your child.
First play session
Your child comes to the room, settles in, and plays. We get acquainted through the language of play. Parents do not attend the session.
Weekly — 45 minutes
The same day and time each week. Consistency is not a formality but part of the method: it gives the child stability to rely on.
Parent meetings
A free 50-minute online meeting when needed: we discuss what is happening, what is changing, and how to support your child at home.
Ending
When we reach positive results, we do not end contact abruptly. We conclude in a way that is predictable for the child: review the journey and say goodbye to each other and the play space.
The playroom
The room is set up so every feeling has a language to speak:
Real-life toys: a family, houses, cars, and animals
Costumes — be anyone for a while
Paints, crayons, clay — make things
Materials for big feelings — rage, battle, and win
My name is Daria Manina
I am a child play specialist. I speak Russian with children and also speak the language of play. I welcome families in a cosy practice in the north of Haarlem.
- Method: “Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)”, Center for Family Systems Therapy, 2026
- Specialisation: “Child Psychology”, professional retraining programme, 2026–2027
- Academic background: Vygotsky Institute of Psychology (RSUH), master’s programme in Family Counselling, 2026–2028. Lomonosov Moscow State University, specialist degree, 2005–2010.
Fees & practical things
- Play session
- 45 minutes weekly, at a fixed day and time
- Intro meeting
- 20 minutes online for parents, free
- Parent meeting
- 50 minutes online when needed, free
- Price
- €40 per session
- Payment
- to the sole proprietorship’s business account
- Cancellation
- If cancelled less than 24 hours in advance, the reserved slot will be charged
The practice is at Lingestraat 1, 2025 RC Haarlem — 15–20 minutes by train from Amsterdam.
Parents ask
Is this psychotherapy? Are you a doctor?
The method I use is called Child-Centered Play Therapy, and I am a child play specialist. Play sessions are not a medical service and do not replace an appointment with a neurologist or other doctors. Play meetings help children work through difficult situations in a safe environment.
My child would just be playing. What am I paying for?
For what ordinary play does not have: space for self-expression; a non-judgmental specialist nearby; acceptance; naming feelings and experiences; staying with difficult emotions; and calmly holding boundaries. It is extremely difficult to recreate this at home because a parent is mum or dad, not a neutral adult. The Child-Centered Play Therapy method is what makes play effective rather than simply a pastime.
How many sessions will we need?
Parents usually notice the first changes within a few weeks. Lasting results typically take shape over 12–20 sessions. Every 4–5 sessions we review what is happening, whether there is forward movement, and which areas still need attention.
What do I tell my child before the first session?
Keep it simple and honest: “There is a room with lots of toys where you can play together with Daria.” Do not say “doctor”, “check-up”, or “they will fix you” — that is not the aim or intention of these sessions.
Will you tell me what my child did in the session?
The content of sessions stays between me and the child — that trust is essential to the method. If a child says something during play that suggests a threat to their safety, that is an exceptional case and the parents will be informed. At parent meetings we discuss the overall progress: what is changing and how to support the child at home.
We live in Amsterdam. Does it make sense to book?
Haarlem is 15–20 minutes from Amsterdam by direct train. The practice is about 15 minutes from Haarlem station by bicycle and can also be reached by bus.
My child is shy and slow to warm up. Will this work?
That is exactly what the playroom is for: nobody demands talking or “behaving properly”. A child may play silently, spend a long time looking around, or play without involving the specialist — progress always follows the child’s pace. This method is especially suitable for shy children.
What if my child does not want to go?
It happens, but one first visit is usually enough for a child’s worries and anxiety to fade — a room full of toys is more convincing than any pep talk.
Start with a meeting
20 minutes for parents, without the child. You describe your situation and I explain how play may help. Then you decide whether this format suits you.
- In Russian or English
- Online
- No commitment
