Children across Northern Ireland are to benefit from a new service specialising in helping them come to terms with a trauma in their lives.

Play Therapy Northern Ireland — which has opened premises in Londonderry and Belfast — also provides support to the families of the children they are helping.

Founders of the service, Sinead Doherty, Eugena Woods and Sile O’Loughlin, have more than 30 years experience working in education, early intervention and social work. They are three of only a small number of registered play therapists in Northern Ireland.

Ms Woods said that family life can be tough and parents are often under extreme pressure.

As a result, she said sometimes people underestimate how changes to family life or an unstable environment can affect children.

For further information on Play Therapy Northern Ireland contact 028 9092 3337 or email info@playtherapyni.co.uk.