SERVICE DETAILS
Play Therapy can help to support children dealing with traumatic or chaotic backgrounds. Young children can often struggle to understand or verbalise their experiences and this can have an adverse affect on their ability to manage their emotions. A therapist will help the child to make sense of and understand their feelings, this enables them to cope better.
What is Play Therapy?
It's a way of working with children who are experiencing emotional distress which can affect they way they develop, behave and function in everyday life.
Play Therapy is a process that helps a child communicate their thoughts, feelings and behaviour through play. Play Therapy is child-centred and non-directive – the child isn't put under pressure to talk about their difficulties but the therapist will help them explore some of the themes that come up in their play. The relationship between the child and therapist will enable the child to process their feelings and through play:
- Learn to value themselves
- Imagine other possibilities
- Imagine other ways of being
- Process life events
To act out and release pent up feelings of tension, frustration, insecurity, aggression, fear and/or confusion. It's particularly useful for children aged 3ys to 8yrs and can help with a variety of emotional, social and physical difficulties including (but not limited to):
- Divorce
- Bereavement
- Abuse
- Domestic violence
- Attachment difficulties
- Bullying
- Illness
- Loss & trauma
We also use other child-lead creative therapies such as art and dance movement therapy.
Our therapy sessions take place in dedicated play rooms in our partner nurseries and schools or at our office, on the same day and same time. There will be initial assessments and once sessions are underway there will be regular feedback meetings with parents/carers. Confidentiality is vital in the therapy, the therapist will not disclose the content of sessions unless they are concerned that the child or someone else might be hurt.
