Play Therapy

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy helps children to understand their feelings and process events that have affected them emotionally. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, children can use play to communicate at their own level and at their own pace.

How can Play Therapy help my child?

Play is vital to every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language development. It helps make learning concrete for all children and young people including those for whom verbal communication may be difficult.

Play Therapy helps children in a variety of ways. It may support them to manage relationships and conflicts in more appropriate ways and increase their understanding of their thoughts and feelings. Sometimes children may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences in order to make sense of their past and cope better with their future. 

The outcomes of Play Therapy may be general e.g. a reduction in anxiety and raised self-esteem, or more specific such as a change in behaviour and improved relations with family and friends.

What happens in a Play Therapy session?

I have a selection of play materials from which your child may choose, including art and craft materials, sand, play dough, small figures and animals, puppets and books. I will support your child to use these resources to express him or herself without having to provide verbal explanations.

As a Play Therapist what do I do?

I have completed extensive training in child development,  attachment (the bonding process) and developmental trauma. I am trained to use play, a child’s natural form of expression, as a means for understanding and communicating with children about feelings, thoughts and behaviour. 

I will meet with you first and listen to your concerns about your child. This will include asking you questions about their history to find out about the stresses the family have been through so that I can help your child to make sense of it. I may ask to seek information from school or other significant adults in their lives. My assessment will include your child’s strengths as well as their difficulties.

Some of the issues that I can support your child with: 

• Anxiety
• Low self esteem
• Family breakup
• Bereavement
• Illness and loss
• Attachment issues
• Developmental Trauma
• Identity issues
• Family member addiction issues
• Anger
• Physical, emotional and sexual abuse

How long does Play Therapy take?

I offer long and short term interventions. Some children will benefit from 6-12 sessions. If a problem is complex or has persisted for a period of time, a longer-term intervention may be required. Sessions are 40 minutes and held once a week on the same day and at the same time. The consistency of sessions   is very important for developing a trusting relationship, any unplanned breaks in therapy may disrupt the progress.

Why is the therapeutic relationship so important?

A good therapeutic relationship enables your child to feel comfortable, safe and understood. The trust that develops supports them to express thoughts and feelings and to use the therapy in a helpful way. It is also really important that your child knows you are supporting the process.

Will it be confidential?

Information that you share about your child and family will usually be kept confidential. I have clinical supervision regularly to think carefully about your child's therapy. All personal details are anonymised. I will only share information with professionals for the benefit of your child with your permission. I am required by law to share information with other professionals if I am concerned that a child is being harmed, hurting others or themselves. I will usually talk to you about this first. (For more information please see my safeguarding policy)

I will contact you at regular intervals to discuss progress in therapy sessions and any changes and developments you have witnessed or experienced at home. I also offer support and strategies to the child and parent when appropriate. 

During parent meetings I do not disclose specific details of what your child has played or said in therapy. This is important in order to maintain your child’s trust and feelings of safety.

However I always ensure the child knows they are free to talk about their sessions, feelings or difficulties outside of the therapy room as they see fit.

What can I do to help my child?

You are very important in supporting your child through the process. Please encourage your child to attend sessions regularly and try to resist the urge to ask your child what they did, as this will put pressure on them to comment on something they may have difficulty understanding themselves.

Instead remind them this is their time so they feel free to express themselves at their own pace.
During any therapeutic intervention behaviour may appear to get worse before it gets better – please do let me know if you have any concerns and feel free to ask any questions throughout the process.