Play Therapy

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Play Therapy

Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that helps troubled or distressed children through play. It offers an opportunity for children to explore painful feelings and understand distressing or traumatic experiences which they may or may not be able to recall in words.

It is a non-threatening method of working with children, who are able to use the playroom in any way they choose, with due regard to safety. Toys and equipment are selected to enable a child to explore issues that are important to them, although no suggestions or guidance is given. They are enabled to use their experiences in the playroom, including the relationship with the therapist, to understand and resolve their difficulties.

A child’s behaviour may be causing stress or difficulties to him/herself or others. They may be showing their feelings through their behaviour rather than in words. A child who is frightened, distressed or angry about their experiences may show it in ways that do not seem to make sense to those who care for him/her. Non-directive play therapy can help a child express those feelings and make sense of them in some way.

Before therapy begins, an initial meeting is arranged between the therapist and parents/carers in which the principles behind play therapy are explained and it is agreed how best to support the child.

A meeting will also be scheduled for the 4th to 5th week in which parents/carers have the opportunity to hear about their child’s progress and to feed back about their experience at home. The child is told that the meeting will happen and given a broad idea of what information will be shared.

Whilst wishing to keep parents/carers informed about important issues and involved in the process, the precise content of each session remains confidential so that the child feels that this time is their own.

An exception to this would be if the therapist felt that a child was at risk of harm in any way, when this would of course have to be followed up.

There are a few important points for parents and carers:

• Play therapy encourages the expression of feelings - this can be painful and your child needs support from home. If you can show you support the child and want them to have therapy this really helps
• As the process of ‘working through’ the child’s difficulties continues, their behaviour may get worse before it gets better. Please do not despair and give up - this is likely to be a good sign! It is really important to persevere with the number of sessions agreed at the beginning
• Children very often express their ‘messy’ feelings by making a mess. This is often an important part of the process. Please bring your child in old clothes
• Your child may want to tell you what happens in the sessions, but please allow him or her to do this in their own time-do not question them about what they have said or done. It is important that they feel this is ‘their’ hour
• An important part of the process is its regularity and reliability. Please do bring your child regularly, on time. It is also important for your child’s sense of security that s/he knows that you are nearby during the sessions. Therefore you’re asked to stay in the building during the sessions.

Our play therapist is a qualified early years teacher and has over 20 years experience of working with children and families in a range of settings.

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