Meet Lucy

BA, BEd, CPW PGrad Cert CCPT, MANZAPT

About Me

Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Wanaka - Lucy Robins Profile

I was born in the UK, but after traveling extensively through Europe, Asia and Australasia and working a variety of jobs including as a Chef, a Lifeguard, and teaching English in the foothills of the Himalayas - I made New Zealand my home in 2002 and settled in Wanaka in 2009. My family and I love the amazing outdoors and enjoy all the water based activities this area as to offer, especially sailing and kayaking. I have a BA from Bath Spa University, UK and a BEd from Massey University, NZ, and have spent over 15 years teaching in Early Childhood and Primary settings in both the North and South Island before retraining and immersing myself in the wonderful world of Child-Centered Play Therapy. 

From Education to Play Therapy

A yellow line above a wavy yellow border.

My career in education taught me that children learn and grow most effectively in an environment that promotes positive and caring relationships, and I often saw the need for more emotional support for both children and their families. Therefore, I chose to embark on a new journey, training as a Child Centered Play Therapist with ChildPlayWorks - an Internationally recognised provider of Child-Centered Play Therapy Training based here in New Zealand. 

Providing a Safe Space for Understanding

I am constantly in awe of the creative and intuitive ways children find to promote their own healthy, pro-social development and how they are able to communicate their needs through the world of play - what could be interpreted as problematic behavior, is often a child's way of voicing a need for love and safety.

In the playroom children are given a safe space to work through their experiences, and I am able to support parents and caregivers to deepen their own understanding of their children's behaviors, so that they can best support and grow alongside them.

  • An absolute game changer

    What a difference Lucy has made. My little girl started off with some big feelings, and she finished with a much better sense of self, better self-esteem and the ability to communicate her feelings. An absolute game changer, she’s such a happier, confident and smiley little girl. Thank you Lucy, couldn't be here without you. 

    - Parent

  • A lasting impact

    We have appreciated our time immensely with Lucy! It has made a huge difference in our whānau. While the changes don’t happen overnight, they sure do have a lasting impact in the years that follow. Our daughter loved having a safe space where she could explore and test her limits and understand her thoughts and emotions. We are truly grateful for the time spent in Open Box Therapy and with the wonderful Lucy!

    - Parent

  • A Chance For Growth

    Lucy has been working with my daughter, who has battled since she was quite small to remain happy and emotionally balanced. Having Play Therapy has made a huge positive impact on my daughter.

    Being part of this journey with my children has been a huge light-bulb moment for me. I recommend every child should have the opportunity as it gives the parents a chance to grow as well.

    - Parent

  • A Calm, Nurturing Environment

    We are so grateful for the care and support Lucy has given our son. As an adopted child, He had a unique journey, and after the arrival of a new baby in our family, he understandably found the transition challenging. We wanted to make sure he had a safe and supportive space to work through his feelings—and Lucy has been exactly that.

    From the very first session, Lucy created a calm, nurturing environment where our son felt understood and secure. Her warm, intuitive approach has helped him express emotions he couldn’t always put into words, we saw such a positive shift in his confidence and emotional resilience. We truly can’t thank Lucy enough for the incredible work she does. Our son’s time with her has been such a gift to all of us.

    - Parent

  • Helped my daughter and I connect and build trust

    I was attending therapy for myself to break my family trauma cycles and navigate a separation and knew I needed support for my daughter as well. I knew I could not be her only support. I noticed a positive difference in my daughter after only 4 sessions with Lucy and the sessions continue to support her. She has grown in confidence and her feeling of security. This has also helped my daughter and I connect and build trust for any future hard things we may face. Would definitely recommend for the child who needs another person in their corner.

    - Parent

  • Improved self esteem and confidence

    We had an amazing experience working with Lucy. Her natural warmth and gentle energy made both parent and child feel really at ease in her playroom. Play therapy can feel like a really intangible thing when you’re doing it at times, but the results have been really positive for our child - for us it has been improved self esteem and a developed sense of confidence that have really helped his mental health journey.

    - Parent

  • A haven for children

    Lucy is a warm and compassionate play therapist who has played a vital role in supporting our family in a period of big transition. Her playroom is a haven for children to work towards mastery of the challenges they might be facing, and her insights invite parents to practice self-reflection and grow alongside their children. In doing so, Lucy has built a practice that is impactful for the whole family. 

    - Parent

Get in touch

To discuss if Child-Centered Play Therapy could be right for your whānau I offer a FREE consultation to see the playroom and talk through any questions you might have.

Contact Lucy