What is Play Therapy?

 

Play Therapy is a developmentally sensitive form of psychotherapy using a range of toys, creative equipment and sand for children 3-16. The equipment gives the  child a safe psychological distance in which they can explore and express difficult emotions.  The Play Therapy sessions are child-led,  empowering  the child to explore emotions that are present for them, some of which may be outside of their awareness.  Understanding the child’s world through their eyes enables me to therapeutically support them in gaining greater understanding and self-awareness.  This enables the child to work through difficult emotions, which in turn lessens the behaviour.  Sessions take place weekly face to face, either at my Therapy room in Pool or at the child’s school.   A minimum of 12 sessions are recommended for mild to moderate behaviour lasting 45 minutes per session. 

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Reasons for Referral 

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I work with young people for many different reasons, below are some of the most common reasons for referral:

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Family breakdown, blended families, anxiety, looked after children, social and communication difficulties, neurodiversity, ADHD behaviours, autisum, trauma, bereavement, aggression, low mood or depression, low self esteem, low mood, poor school attendance, parental difficulties with well being and mental health, historic abuse, ongoing difficulties in relationships, school exclusions and bullying.

 

Benefits Of Play Therapy 

 

Self regulation - Play Therapy gives the child the tools to recognise and manage their emotions by finding ways that work for them.  This in turn reduces dysregulating bevhaviours.

 

Improve Resilience and Confidence Building  - By Navigating decision making, mastery skills and difficult feelings in Play Therapy, enhances a child’s resilience and Confidence. 

 

Communication and Emotional Expression- The Therapist and Child work in the  therapeutic relationship to develop communication and emotional expression skills.  These skills bring about positive communication  - both verbal and non-verbal in everyday relationships.  

 

Working with Trauma  and the Child -  Play Therapy can provide a boundaried space for the child to make sense of Trauma, in whichever way feels right for them.  

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What Happens During the Play Therapy sessions?

 

Each week I would meet with your child at the same time in the same place for 45 minutes.   This helps to build consistency and safety in the relationship.  Sessions are confidential between the child and myself. However, we will have regular check-in sessions which gives you the opportunity  to feedback and ask any questions whilst discussing  strategies that may be helpful at home.  

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Therapeutic Parenting Topics 

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During Therapeutic Parenting sessions, we may cover:

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. Using the ‘iceberg’ analogy to  learn what is driving your child’s behaviour 

. How attachment types can help you understand your child’s behaviour

. How the nervous system works and how to co-regulate a child’s nervous system 

. The importance of structure and boundaries in creating psychological safety and strategies for     this

. How to respond to the emotion not the behaviour

 .How to recognise why some behaviours are present in your child, for example sensory regulation 

. How to recognise areas where your child may be feeling emotionally ‘stuck’ in an area of development 

. How to help your child through anxiety, such as bedtime anxiety 

. How to respond at  transition times, ie home to school or within a blended family 

. Games that can enhance the parent-child attachment