Maha Ghazale is a highly qualified and certified Play Therapist, parenting coach, and Infant Mental Health Specialist in training with UC Davis. She has received her training through the esteemed Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) and is a proud member of Play Therapy International.
Maha’s expertise and experience have earned her a place on the United Kingdom’s Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority. Based in Beirut, Lebanon, Maha offers early intervention services for infants, children, and adolescents. Her therapeutic approach is deeply informed by her understanding of brain development and functioning, and the essential role of relationships in our lives.
Maha’s passion is to support children’s emotional resilience, nurture cooperation, and strengthen the child-parent relationship. She seamlessly integrates various skills and theories into her practice, with a focus on attachment-based approaches such as Circle of Security International, Play Therapy, and Dr. Bruce Perry’s NMT certification of trauma-informed practice with neuroscience.
Her expertise and certifications have helped countless individuals and families find the needed support to heal from trauma, adversity, and mental health challenges. Maha’s qualifications include a PG Diploma in Play Therapy and a PG Certificate of Therapeutic Play Skills from Leeds Beckett University and APAC. She is also a certified Trainer in Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (completed Phase I, II), which is a developmentally-informed, biologically-respectful approach to working with at-risk children.
Maha is a certified AutPlay Therapy provider, a Circle of Security (COSP™) Facilitator, and is trained in Nature-Based Play Therapy, Trauma Play, Collaborative Problem-Solving, and the NCAST (Nursing Child Assessment Satellite Training) Parent-Child Interaction (PCI) Feeding and Teaching Scales, an observational tool used to assess the quality of parent-child interactions.
In 2022, Maha co-authored a therapeutic children’s story with Sophie Marsh for children affected by the August 4th Beirut Blast. This story was distributed in schools, organizations, refugee camps, and clinics across Lebanon to help children process and cope with the tragic event. Additionally, copies were distributed to schools and organizations in the United Kingdom for children who have experienced similar circumstances
Maha Ghazale is a certified Play Therapist and parenting coach and currently training as an Infant Mental Health Specialist with UC Davis. She has trained through the Academy of Play and Child Psychotherapy (APAC) and is a member of Play Therapy International. Maha is on the United Kingdom’s Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists, which the Professional Standards Authority has accredited. She is currently working with children and families in Beirut, Lebanon.
Maha offers early intervention for infants, children and adolescents. A deep knowledge informs her therapeutic approach regarding brain development and functioning and the understanding that relationships are essential to being human. Her interest is supporting your child’s well-being and emotional resilience, nurturing cooperation, and strengthening the child-parent relationship.
Maha integrates several skills and theories into her practice, focusing on attachment-based approaches, such as Circle of Security International, Play Therapy, and Dr. Bruce Perry’s NMT certification of trauma-informed practice with neuroscience. Maha’s certifications and experience have helped individuals and families find the needed support to heal from trauma, adversity, and mental health challenges.
In 2022, Maha co-authored a therapeutic children’s story with Sophie Marsh for children affected by the August 4th Beirut Blast. Copies were distributed in schools, organizations, refugee camps and clinics in her country Lebanon to help children process and cope with having witnessed the tragic event. More copies got distributed to schools and organizations in the United Kingdom for children who have experienced similar tragic circumstances.
My Qualifications
- Collaborative Problem-Solving tier 1
- PG Diploma of Play Therapy, Leeds Beckett University & APAC
- PG Certificate of Therapeutic Play Skills, Leeds Beckett University & APAC
- Certification as Trainer in Neurosequential Model of Therapeutics (completed Phase I, II), a developmentally-informed, biologically-respectful approach to working with at-risk children
- AutPlay Therapy – a play therapy approach designed to address the needs of autistic children, neurodivergent children, and their families
- Circle of Security (COSP™) Facilitator
- Nature Based Play Therapy
- Trauma Play
- Bachelor’s Degree, Early Childhood Education
