Marina Melo
Therapeutic Play Practitioner & Parent Educator
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THERAPY GOALS
Marina Melo
Therapeutic Play Practitioner & Parent Educator
I am a Therapeutic Play Practitioner and Parent Educator working with children, families and schools to support emotional development, emotional regulation and overall wellbeing through play-based and relationship-centred approaches. I work with children ages 4 to 13 year olds.
I hold a Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills with University College Cork (UCC), accredited by APAC – the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy, and I am currently completing my Postgraduate Diploma in Play Therapy with the University of Chichester, UK. My work is grounded in child-centred play therapy, attachment theory, neuroscience-informed practice and trauma-sensitive, developmentally respectful care.
Alongside my therapeutic training, I am a Certified Positive Discipline Parent Educator and have over seven years of professional experience supporting parents and caregivers through behavioural, emotional and daily challenges.
Before moving into this field, I completed a degree in Biology and later an MBA in Brazil. Although my professional path changed, this scientific background shaped how I think and work today. I value evidence, observation and understanding systems as a whole. I naturally integrate research, neuroscience and practical strategies into my work, always aiming to make support both grounded and accessible for families.
I am also a speaker offering workshops for parents and professionals, in school and Congress. Most recently, I presented at CIAB, an International Congress in Brazil, where I spoke about play and autistic children for professional, shared practical ways to use play as a bridge for connection and development at home and in school.
I work bilingually in English and Portuguese and support families locally in Ireland as well as internationally through online parental guidance.
Contact Marina Today
Marina is a Therapeutic Play Practitioner and Parent Educator working with children, families and schools to support emotional development, emotional regulation and overall wellbeing through play-based and relationship-centred approaches.
You can contact her by phone, email or by completing the form on this page. I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Contact Marina by Phone
You can call us on 0906 455 302
Contact Marina by Email
You can email Marina on contact@athlonecareclinic.ie
Contact Marina
My Journey Into Becoming A Therapist
My journey into this work did not begin in a classroom or a clinic. It began at home.
I moved to Ireland when my son was just five months old, shortly after he was diagnosed with Joubert Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that affects a child’s global development. Overnight, my life shifted from a professional career in biology to navigating medical appointments, therapies and the uncertainty that comes with raising a child with additional needs in a new country, far away from family support.
While waiting for services and trying to adapt to this new reality, I started studying child development on my own. At first, it was simply a way to help my son. I wanted to understand how to support him better, how to play with intention and how to encourage his development at home. What I didn’t expect was how deeply I would connect with this world.
I began sharing what I was learning with other parents online. I saw firsthand how powerful simple, intentional play could be, not only for development, but for connection, regulation and confidence. Other families started reaching out. Conversations grew. My page grew. And slowly, what began as survival became purpose.
As my son entered the toddler years and big emotions arrived, the meltdowns, frustrations and exhaustion, I felt what many parents feel: there must be another way. I trained as a Parent Educator because I wanted to feel capable and grounded, not helpless. At the time, very little was being said about emotional development and respectful parenting, especially for neurodivergent children. I couldn’t find the kind of professional I needed. So I decided to become her.
From there, everything expanded naturally: early years education, working in preschools, supporting families one-to-one and eventually discovering Play Therapy, a modality that felt like everything coming together. Science, relationship, play, emotion and healing finally made sense as one integrated approach.
Looking back, my turning point wasn’t a single moment. It was many small ones: sitting on the floor playing with my son, listening to overwhelmed parents, and watching children communicate through play when words simply weren’t enough.That’s when I knew this wasn’t just a career. It was my calling.
Marina’s Specialist Areas
Children’s Play Therapy
Parent / Teacher Education & Training
Parent Support
Special Needs Play Therapy
Sand Tray Therapy
Neurodivergent Play Therapy
Personal Note To Families
If you are reading this, you might be feeling tired, worried or unsure.
Maybe your child is struggling emotionally. Maybe behaviour feels overwhelming. Maybe you feel judged or like you’ve already tried everything. I want you to know something first: you are not failing.
Children don’t ‘misbehave’ to make life harder. They struggle when something feels too big inside. And families don’t need more blame, they need understanding, support and practical tools.
My work is warm, playful and collaborative. I am a neurodiversity-affirming therapist and I deeply respect each child’s pace and way of communicating. In Play Therapy, children lead and I follow with curiosity, safety and attunement.
With parents, I work side by side. I don’t tell you what to do. Instead, I help you understand what your child’s behaviour is really communicating and we build strategies that truly fit your daily life.
Parents often tell me they leave sessions feeling stronger, more confident and more connected. Many say they finally understand their child in a new way. Children often show their growth quietly. One child once told me, ‘Here I learned that when I feel sad, I can play and it helps me calm down’. Moments like this mean everything to me.
My hope is that when you walk into my space, you feel safe, seen and supported
My Goals & Areas Of Focus
My work sits at the intersection of child, family and school. I don’t believe emotional support happens only inside a play therapy room. Real change happens in everyday life, at home, in classrooms and in relationships.
I am especially passionate about supporting neurodivergent children, children who struggle with emotional regulation and families navigating complex developmental or behavioural challenges. I am deeply committed to bridging the gap between therapy, parenting and education.
My goal is to nurture young minds through play-based therapeutic work while empowering parents to feel confident, connected and supported in their role. I aim to help children feel understood and emotionally safe within the therapeutic space, while supporting families in carrying this understanding into everyday life.
Personally, my experiences as a mother, an immigrant and a parent of a child with different needs shape everything I do. I understand what it feels like to navigate systems without support, to advocate constantly and to feel alone while trying to do your best.
That empathy lives at the heart of my practice.
I believe children heal through relationship. Families grow through understanding. And play is one of the most powerful tools we have to connect, regulate and thrive.
It is truly a privilege to walk alongside families on this journey.