Play Therapy for Children
Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy which uses play as the main mode of communication with children, to determine and overcome psychological challenges. It is aimed at helping children towards emotional regulation and developing a good sense of self, focusing on trauma and attachment resolution, Play therapy also assists with development and motor skills.
Play therapy is an effective technique for therapy, regardless of age, gender, or nature of the referral. When children do not know how to communicate, they generally use behaviour as a language of communication. This may look like misbehaviour, but it is a way of communicating. Play therapy seeks to provide a way for children to cope with difficult emotions and helps them find healthier solutions and coping mechanisms.
Behaviours you may be experiencing
- Anger/aggressive behaviour
- Poor learning
- Lack of concentration
- Eating disorders
- Bed wetting
- Hyperactivity
- Bullying
- Withdrawn behaviour
- Anxiety
- Refusal to go out or to go to school
- OCD Behaviour
- Clingy/will not leave carer/parent
- Controlling behaviour
- self harm
Possible Reasons
- Divorce
- Physical/sexual abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Bereavement
- Bullying
- Post Natal depression
- Medical reasons and difficulties at birth
- Miscarriage
- Loss of parents, during early childhood
- Medication
- Poor diet
- Environments that cannot accommodate safety and emotional regulation
The session are 45 minutes weekly, on the same day and time every week. During this time children are allowed to play freely with sand, art, clay, puppets, music, in a non-directive way, so they can communicate their inner world through metaphor and stories, enabling them to make inner connections, in the brain and in the body, helping them to create an internal system that helps them to regulate
The sessions are non-judgemental and accepting, allowing children to safely explore their inner worlds, allowing them to grow in a safe space, helping them to create a better narrative that helps them to create an inner foundation, that allows their system to work for them rather than against them. It doesn’t matter about creative ability as this isn’t a requisite of the session. Everyone has he innate ability they just need to connect.
So if you are looking at this website, then maybe you are experiencing difficulties with your child, yourself, or both, and are not sure how to make the next step. The first step is booking a consultation where can discuss your situation and ways in which I can help you. We also cover the process in depth. From here we then book an assessment for your child, to make sure Play Therapy is the right intervention. Both sessions do not commit you to the therapy, but are a foundation for the process ahead. If you do decide to go ahead with the sessions, we then book the sessions.
All sessions are conducted abiding by BACP/PTUK ethical principals. Full DBS, ICO, and Fully insured.
