Flourish in Play
WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?
Children communicate through play. Play Therapy uses a variety of play and creative art techniques to alleviate chronic, mild and moderate psychological and emotional conditions in children that are causing behavioural problems and/or not allowing the child to reach their full potential. It is a child- led and non directive therapy which means children are not questioned directly about their difficulties and can choose to play with whatever they like. Play Therapy can help children in many ways. It can offer emotional support and can help children to learn more about their feelings and thoughts. Children may also learn more positive ways of managing relationships and conflicts.
WHO IS PLAY THERAPY FOR?
Play therapy can help children and their families with a range of difficulties, including social, emotional and behavioural problems.
Play therapy can help children:
- With lots of worries, anxiety or sadness
- To increase self-esteem and confidence
- Experiencing bullying or struggling with friendships
- with sleeping, eating or toileting issues
- making sense of change, like parental separation/divorce or the loss of a loved one
- who are struggling to manage their big emotions in a safe way
- have experienced something difficult, scary or traumatic
- strengthen relationships with peers, siblings and parents/carers
“Toys are children’s words and play is their language”
G.Landreth
PLAY THERAPY TOOL KIT
Children can choose from a range of toys and art material including; –
- Clay
- Sand tray with miniature symbols
- Toys
- Art, drawing, painting and colouring
- Music
- Puppets
- Creative visualisation
- Therapeutic stories
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Play Therapy offers the child an opportunity to explore conscious and unconscious life experiences through play.
The child is able to express themselves freely in the safe consistent space in the presence of the therapist.
This gives the therapist an opportunity to experience the inner world of the child, and reflect this back to them, which presents the child an opportunity to hear, see and feel what they are expressing
Play Therapy for individuals, 1 to 1 session age 4 to 14 years
Individual play therapy sessions are for 40 minutes long. The sessions will be in the same place, time each week and the same room. This can take place at my play therapy room, in school or at a different venue. Therapy sessions are mainly non-directive. The child can choose what they do within the session from the tool kit. There are boundaries set to keep themselves safe, the Therapist, the room, and the toys.
What to Expect
Initially I will have a chat with you (parent/carer) over the phone to discuss your child’s needs. This is free of charge. Once I have all relevant information and it is agreed that play therapy would be appropriate, I will arrange to meet you to fill in a referral form and sign an agreement. This is an opportunity for you to share what the challenges have been and how Day-to-day life has been impacted. Your hopes and wishes will be determined along with appropriate goals. Following this, the first session will be scheduled for me to meet with your child and for your child to get to know me. A minimum of 12 sessions are offered, but many children may require longer term intervention to promote changes in ways of thinking and for these to become behavioural changes long term. A review will be arranged 6 to 8 weeks, to discuss progress and also to give any advice or support needed. All therapy is confidential.
Further information for Parents/Carers press here https://playtherapy.org.uk/for-parents/
Play Therapy for Groups
Groups of up to 4 children work together in a block of 6 to 8 sessions. These sessions are based on a theme for example low self-esteem, peer relations, witnessed domestic violence, social skills and more. These sessions will be the same time each week and same room, for 60 minutes long. Children who attend group play therapy begin to discover that they are not alone, they develop listening skills, they learn how to respond and share and feel heard. Group sessions are structured and planned rather than non-directive.
TREE PLAY THERAPY ROOM
I offer play therapy session in my private play therapy room, which is situated in my garden, in schools and at another venue. A private safe space is created and is at the same room and time each week.
