
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a psychotherapeutic approach primarily centered on the utilization of play as the primary mode of communication for children aged 4 to 12. This method enables children to effectively convey their emotions, develop coping strategies, gain a sense of empowerment, and surmount the challenges they encounter. Play Therapy harnesses various creative outlets such as play, art, and role-play to facilitate the exploration of their emotional landscape and nurture their self-awareness. It offers a means for children to express themselves without the necessity of articulating their feelings verbally.
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I use a non-directive approach. This means the child takes the lead and plays freely, without the therapist guiding activities.
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These sessions typically extend for 45 minutes and maintain a consistent schedule, occurring at the same time, on the same day, and in the same location every week. This regularity is fundamental for establishing a secure and trusting therapeutic relationship between the therapist and the client. It provides children with the assurance that they are supported unconditionally within an environment where they can communicate comfortably, according to their own developmental level and at their preferred pace.

Understanding Play Therapy
My goal for your child is to create a safe, non-judgmental, sacred and therapeutic space - the play room - specially equipped with a range of toys, art supplies and games to encourage your child to express any underlying feelings, what they may be experiencing within their inner and outer world and give them the words or tools to help them emotionally regulate during moments of emotional dysregulation. Many children do not have the language and cognitive understanding to express what they may be feeling.
Play Therapy allows them a non-threatening space, to be completely themselves and giving them a safe medium of self-expression to allow the therapist an understanding of what they may be struggling with. ​
I take guidance from Play Therapy UK’s ‘Ethical Principles’ (PTUK). I receive regular supervision from a professional creative therapist to ensure my safe and reflective practice.
Benefits of Play Therapy
During Play Therapy sessions, your child is given the opportunity to play out whatever feelings and experiences they are dealing with. These may include frustration, anger, insecurity, fear, confusion and sadness using the tools in the room symbolically. Your child will begin to realize that they have the power to be a separate individual, to make decisions and think independently.
As the therapist, I will be supporting them throughout the session by remaining by their side and allowing them the freedom to be their authentic self. With this, your child will bring their experiences or emotions to the surface, allowing them to open up, face them and be able to cope with them.
This space allows them to feel no worry with feeling whatever they may want to feel within the session. As the significant adult in their life, you will be able to gain better understanding of the struggles your child may be dealing with and feel more empowered to offer the support to encourage their healing and growth.
