A Journey Into Your Child’s World 🌿

❤️ A Space Just for the Two of You When was the last time you gave your child your full, undivided attention, without rushing, organising, teaching or correcting? Modern family life can be busy and demanding. Between school, work, activities and everyday responsibilities, opportunities to truly connect can become surprisingly rare. And sometimes, as children grow, they become harder to reach. They may withdraw, struggle to express their feelings or seem reluctant to talk about what’s happening in their world. A Journey Into Your Child’s World offers something different: a gentle, creative space where you and your child can slow down, explore together and discover new ways of understanding one another. Guided by an experienced psychologist and Gestalt therapist, you will use sand, miniature figures, art materials, metaphorical cards and therapeutic exercises to explore emotions, relationships and experiences that can be difficult to express through ordinary conversation. There is no right or wrong way to participate. Just curiosity, creativity and an opportunity to meet each other in a different way. 🌱 Why Join Us? These workshops are for parents who would like to: ❤️ Strengthen their relationship with their child Enjoy meaningful time together, away from everyday distractions, and nurture a stronger emotional connection. 🌿 Understand their child’s inner world Discover more about their child’s feelings, experiences, worries and wishes through play, creativity and shared exploration. 💬 Find new ways to communicate Explore how to listen, respond and connect when ordinary conversations become difficult. 🦋 Support their child through change Create space for feelings associated with moving home or country, changing schools, family separation, divorce or other significant life transitions. 🤍 Reconnect when things feel distant If your child has become withdrawn, sensitive or less communicative, explore new ways of approaching each other with curiosity and understanding. ✨ Simply enjoy being together You don’t need to be experiencing difficulties to benefit. Sometimes the most valuable gift we can give a child is our full attention. 🎨 What Happens During the Workshops? Each session combines creative exploration with gentle therapeutic guidance. We may use: 🏖️ Sandplay and miniature worlds Create scenes and stories using sand and miniature figures, allowing thoughts, emotions and experiences to emerge through symbolic play. 🎨 Art and creative expression Explore feelings and relationships through drawing, colours and other creative materials. 🃏 Metaphorical and associative cards Use images and stories to stimulate imagination, reflection and conversations that might otherwise be difficult to begin. 🤝 Therapeutic exercises Participate in carefully selected activities designed to encourage listening, trust, emotional awareness and mutual understanding. 🌿 Professional therapeutic support Throughout the experience, I will gently facilitate the activities, support communication and help parents notice and explore meaningful moments in their interactions with their children. Activities will be adapted to the children’s ages, interests and individual needs. 💛 A Gentle, Supportive Environment This is not a parenting assessment, and there is no expectation to share private family experiences with the group. Each parent and child will have their own space to explore together, with professional guidance available throughout. The group is deliberately small, with a maximum of three parent–child pairs, allowing for a personal and supportive atmosphere. The workshops are designed to encourage connection and reflection. They are not a substitute for individual psychological assessment or therapy when more specialised support is needed. 👩‍⚕️ About Your Facilitator Dr Yana Varlakova, PhD Psychologist | Gestalt Therapist I am a psychologist with a PhD in Clinical Psychology and an MSc in Cognitive Neuroscience, with experience working with adults, children and young people. My approach integrates psychological understanding, attachment-informed practice, Gestalt therapy and creative, experiential methods. I am particularly interested in how emotional connection develops through shared experiences, play, communication and the quality of our attention to one another. My aim is to create a welcoming space where parents and children can explore their relationships with curiosity, sensitivity and professional support. Workshop is run in English with possible translation into Russian language 📅 Dates and Times Saturdays, 3:00–4:15 pm * 14 November 2026 * 28 November 2026 * 5 December 2026 Three in-person sessions, 75 minutes each. 📍 Location Homewood United Reformed Church Homewood Road, corner of Sandpit Lane St Albans, AL1 4BH