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What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is a type of therapy that uses the child's natural language of play to help them overcome emotional or behaviour  challenges.  Specially trained therapists support children through their own healing process using a variety of creative art materials, movement, music and sand. 

What happens?

During treatment the therapist creates a comfortable, safe environment where the child is able to play with as few limits as possible.  They can work with the toolkit in whatever way they choose providing they do not hurt themselves or anyone else. This type of therapy is non-directive and so the child leads the way, processing at their own pace.  The space is referred to as the playroom and sessions happen at the same time each week.  Sessions last for 30-50 minutes dependent on the age of the child. 

The Toolkit

A Play Therapy toolkit consists of the following:

  • Sand and mixture sand symbols

  • Clay

  • Art & craft materials

  • Puppets

  • Messy Play

  • Drama, Dance and Movement

  • Construction

  • Creative visualisation

  • Story Telling

Benefits of Play Therapy

  • Increased confidence

  • Promote healing from past trauma

  • Develop problem solving skills

  • Facilitates expression of emotions

  • Developing social skills

  • Developing communication skills

Play Therapy is ideal for children who experience...

  • Academic/physical under performance 

  • Aggression

  • Peer relationship difficulties 

  • Separation  

  • Low self-esteem and confidence

  • Loss  

  • Bereavement 

  • Behaviour problems 

  • Developmental Trauma 

  • Anxiety 

  • Abuse/Neglect

  • Emotional regulation difficulties 

  • ADHD 

  • ASC

  • Depression

  • Selective Mutism 

This is not exhaustive, but shows the wide range of issues that play therapy can support. 

Safeguarding

Play therapy sessions are confidential and therefore what is said, done and made in the playroom, stays in the playroom.  That is, of course, unless there is any cause for concern for the child's safety. In this instance we would follow the appropriate safeguarding procedures. 

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It is very unusual for a child to be given time that is truly confidential where parents, school and friends don't know what is happening. This confidentiality is crucial as it enables the child to be totally free to express themselves without judgement.

 

However, this can be difficult for adults, particularly parents.  As parents we want to know what our children are doing, thinking and feeling. It is important not to ask about the session.  Questions such as; Did you have fun? What did you do? What did you talk about? are not helpful to the process.

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It is made clear to the child in the initial session that they can share whatever they want and that it is only the therapist who has to maintain this confidentiality.

 

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