What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a child friendly way of helping children with their behavioural and emotional issues. Children can find it tricky to identify and talk about how they are feeling. Play is a child’s natural medium of self-expression, it is essential for their development and allows them to play out and rehearse their feelings and difficulties, which in turn will lead to a healthier and happier child.

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Play Therapy uses a variety of play and creative arts techniques to support children with mild to complex difficulties. It may be non-directive, directive or a mixture of the two.

Play Therapy takes place in a confidential setting, on a weekly basis, with the provision of a ‘tool kit’; a selection of toys, arts and craft materials such as paint and clay, as well as a sand tray and a selection of figures and objects.

Play therapy is guided by a trained professional who uses clinical insight and techniques to help the child.

Who is it for?

Play therapy is most suitable for children and young people aged 4 to 13 years old. It is particularly effective with children who cannot, or do not want to talk about their problems, allowing them to express what they can’t say verbally.

It may alleviate chronic, mild and moderate psychological and emotional conditions in children that are causing behavioural problems and/or are preventing a child from realising their potential.

Such conditions may include:

Abuse

ADHD/ASD

Anger

Anxiety

Attachment issues

Bereavement/Loss

Bullied/Bullying

Communication problems

Developmental Delay

Domestic Abuse

Lack of confidence

Nightmares

Poor school attendance

Selective or Situational Mutism

School refuser

Sensory processing

Separated/divorced parents

Social exclusion

Trauma

Under performing

How does it work?

1:1 sessions are held weekly for 40 minutes on the same day and time each week to ensure consistency, build trust and maintain the therapeutic relationship. Regularity helps the child to feel secure and contained, allowing for deeper work and greater benefit from the therapeutic process.

During the sessions the child will be able to choose which area(s) of the toolkit they wish to use. A variety of resources will be made available every week, such as art and craft items, puppets, sand, playdough or clay, small world play, music, movement, meditation and relaxation activities.

What are the benefits of Play Therapy?

Play Therapy provides a caring and nurturing environment, allowing the child to explore and realise their full potential. It provides the child with the support to effect change in their lives, through problem solving skills and the use of coping strategies to help regulate their emotions.

The connection between the therapist, the child and the toolkit facilitates the release of beneficial neurotransmitters, such as oxytocin (associated with bonding and trust) and serotonin (linked to mood regulation). These neurochemical shifts calm the nervous system and create a safe space for deeper emotional exploration.