Hi there! so the big question, what is play therapy? 

 

Play therapy is a form of therapy specifically designed to help children explore and understand their feelings, experiences and the world around them through play.
For children, play is a natural way of communicating. While adults often use words to talk about how they feel, children may find it much easier to express themselves through toys, stories, creativity and imagination.
In the playroom, your child is given a safe, accepting space where they can explore things at their own pace, supported by a qualified play therapist.

 

What happens in a Play Therapy session?

Each play therapy session lasts around 50 minutes and takes place in a safe, confidential play space with a range of carefully selected toys and creative materials.

Rather than being told what to play with or what to talk about, your child is given the freedom to choose how they use the space. They might use sand, figures, art materials, puppets, role play, stories or other forms of creative play.

As a play therapist, I follow your child's lead and support them as they explore their feelings and experiences through play. There is no pressure to talk about anything before they are ready.

And yes… essentially I turn up with a big bag full of toys!

 

How can Play Therapy help my child?

While it may look like “just playing”, there can be a lot happening beneath the surface. Through play, children can explore difficult feelings and experiences in a way that feels natural and manageable for them.

Play therapy can support children with anxiety, big emotions, behavioural difficulties, low self-esteem, bereavement and loss, family changes, trauma, attachment difficulties and challenges with emotional regulation.

Most importantly, play therapy meets your child at their individual level, with patience, understanding and care.

 

If you're wondering whether play therapy could be right for your child, you're very welcome to get in touch.
We can have an informal chat about what's been happening for your child, what support you're looking for and whether play therapy might be a suitable next step.
There's no pressure,  sometimes it simply helps to talk things through first.