What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy can be useful for any child from birth to 12 years old. A child will be more willing to talk about their intimate feelings when they feel respected and accepted.
Play helps children to express:
- their emotions,
- thoughts,
- wishes and
- needs
It helps them to understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they have not had the chance or the skills to sort out properly.
This technique allows a child to use play to communicate at their own level and pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened.
The play therapist uses specific techniques to assess how a child experiences their world and how they react to events
Children are guided to become aware of their feelings. Awareness is very important because without awareness change is not possible.
The child is empowered to:
- learn more about who they are,
- talk about things that are frightening or painful,
- be self-supportive and to
- experiment with new behaviour.
They can learn how to become better at regulating emotions and expressing them in constructive ways.
They can discover who they are and what their strong and weak points, needs, wishes, thoughts and dreams are.
The combination of this self-knowledge and training in social skills may help a child to become:
- more assertive
- self-confident and to
- have self-respect and
- respect for others.
What people say about us
I just wanted to thank you again for the wonderful work that you've done over the past year. We're so happy that he has come out of his shell and is now interacting so well with familiar and unfamiliar people.
I must admit, I first came to the centre reluctantly, and was not very enthusiastic about starting therapy. Now…. I look forward to my regular sessions. I absolutely LOVE my “pre – therapy” coffee and catch-ups with the Practice manager, who is the life and soul of the centre.
As a parent it has been such a good experience dealing with a team who are so warm and caring, and yet very professional!! My child’s attitude to coming to the centre speaks for itself.
Had an incredible experience at this practice. The psychologist was authentic, efficient and the help I received was life changing. I would not hesitate at recommending this centre. Everything you could need and more!