ABOUT PLAY THERAPY

WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?

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Play Therapy helps children understand complicated feelings and upsetting events that they haven't had the chance to process. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, as adult therapy usually expects, children use play to communicate at their own level and at their own pace without feeling interrogated or threatened. Therapy is a process of growth and self-discovery, during sessions the therapist promotes the adoption of new attitudes and reactions, by encouraging behavioural transformations and inspiring positive ways of thinking. These tools can help a child get back on track, healing their relationships at home and in school, promoting positive behaviour; in turn improving their educational attainment.

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HOW CAN PLAY THERAPY HELP?

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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. Children receive emotional support and can learn to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. Sometimes they may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences to make sense of their past and cope better with their future. Children may also learn to manage relationships and conflicts in more appropriate ways. 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.  

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WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN A PLAY THERAPY SESSION?

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Play Therapy will take place in a designated room with a large selection of play materials from which your child may choose. These include art and craft materials, sand, water, clay, small figures and animals, musical instruments, role play toys, puppets and therapeutic story books. The child will use these resources to express him or herself without having to provide verbal explanations.

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WHAT DOES A PLAY THERAPIST DO?

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Play Therapists receive extensive training in subjects such as child development and attachment (the bonding process). They are 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. Children can be referred by filling out a Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire, giving the child a score out of 40 to help the Play Therapist understand the needs of the child.

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