What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy sessions take place in a private, child-friendly and confidential setting where the Play Therapist sees the child on a one-to-one basis.
In Play Therapy sessions, children explore their own creativity and express themselves using media such as: drawing and painting, water and clay, sand tray and miniatures, stories, creative visualisation, drama and puppetry, movement and music.
A child may not have the words to describe their feelings or explain their behaviour. Play is a natural way for children to express themselves. Play Therapy provides the expertise and time to do this through play, aiming to build a child’s ability to develop healthy and resilient relationships, and to work though difficult experiences which may be preoccupying them, improving their wellbeing and allowing them to learn better at school.
Play Therapy is child-centred and mostly non-directive. Your child will be able to choose freely from a large selection of play and creative resources, leading the way in their play by choosing materials and activities as they wish without needing to provide verbal explanations. The Play Therapist’s role is to enter the child’s world, to follow and track their play, reflecting their feelings and emotions.
The therapeutic relationship that develops between the child and their Play Therapist is very important. They must feel comfortable, safe and understood. This trusting environment allows a child to express their thoughts and feelings and to use the therapy in a useful way. During play, the child has an opportunity to express deeper thoughts, ideas and wishes which allows the Play Therapist to gain valuable insights into how they experience their world. Through the Play Therapy relationship, the child is able to make sense of their life experiences and to express difficult feelings through their play.
What will my child experience?
When your child comes to Play Therapy for the first time, your child will lead the way. Often a child is happy to come in by themselves but sometimes they choose for a parent to come in with them. Once your child has seen the room with you, you can leave them to play.
Sessions are 50 minutes long and your child will lead the play, choosing what to play with and how to play. At the beginning of the very first session I will introduce safeguarding and confidentiality in a way appropriate to your child's stage of development. There are few boundaries in the room, simply those needed to keep your child, myself and the resources safe.
Your child will be alerted to the end of the session with a 10 minute, 5 minute and 1 minute reminder to support them with the transition involved in ending the session.
Anything your child makes during the session will be kept in a box which belongs to them and which they will take away with then at the end of therapy.
How are parents involved?
When your child is first referred, I will talk with you and listen to what has been happening, how your child is at home and what you hope would be the outcome of this help.
Once you have given consent for the therapy to start, your child will have one session each week during term time for a minimum of 12 sessions. An optional mid-way review is offered around 7 weeks into therapy. This ensures that we are working together to help your child although I am also available for you to contact via email.
Your child will know about any meetings and will be assured of confidentiality. General themes and progress in therapy will be discussed, but specific details of sessions will remain confidential between Play Therapist and child, promoting their feelings of trust and the safety of the therapeutic relationship.
The nature of therapy means that sometimes behaviour may appear to get worse before it gets better. This is perfectly normal, and I hope to be able to support you through this. Please get in touch if you have any concerns or questions throughout the process.
It helps not to ask for details about their sessions, or to ask children to behave in a certain way when they are there. Play Therapists do not expect or need ‘good’ behaviour in the sessions. Your child is permitted to express themselves freely, without judgement, in their sessions. Play Therapists are trained to understand and manage all types of behaviour, and to recognise and work with the reasons behind it.