Play Therapy is a form of counselling for children that uses their natural form of expression- play.

The therapist creates a safe and supportive environment in the playroom so children can freely express themselves and work through their feelings and challenges. The therapist takes the child’s lead, offering acceptance, validation, and support as they observe and reflect the child’s emotional and thought processes in their play.

Through this process, the child can become aware of their emotions, intentions, beliefs, and desires. They can learn how to problem solve, increase their capacity for emotional regulation, gain a positive sense of self, gain autonomy, and learn to make positive social choices.

It may be helpful to link the child’s perceived challenges with the need for play therapy, while using language to say that play therapy is to ‘help’ them rather than ‘fix’ them.

Children often come to play therapy after a period of difficulty, often at the initiative of their carers or educators.

Examples:
“You know how you feel angry at kinder when other children want you to share toys? Your feelings are really important. Play therapy will help you to find ways to take care of your feelings.”

“You know how you’ve been having difficulty going to sleep because you’re worried about school? Your feelings are really important. Play Therapy will help you to find ways to take care of your feelings.”

Generally, sessions are one on one between the child and therapist. This allows the child and therapist to develop a trusting therapeutic relationship from which to work from. Sometimes, the child will want to explore and process feelings and events relating to their home life and family relationships. Having a parent in the room may hinder this process; the child may feel they need to only express themselves in ways that are acceptable to their parent or caregiver.

Sometimes, younger children may need their parent/caregiver in the room initially as they settle in. We will work with you to help your child during this transition period. The aim will be for the parent to eventually stay in the waiting room, and act as a secure base in case the child needs to check in. If you think your child will need checking in, please remain in the waiting room instead of ‘drop and go’.

Your child needs to trust that the therapist will not ‘tell on them’ after each session. You have the option to schedule in a parent update session with the therapist after every 5-6 sessions. This may be either face to face or via Zoom. Alternatively, a written progress summary may be provided.

In the meantime, if you would like to inform the therapist of any changes or progress at home, you can use the ‘between session feedback form’ to communicate this without discussing this verbally in front of your child.