What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is a mode of therapy that can provide children with a safe space to work through their feelings, difficulties and make sense of their life experiences. Each child will have a different early life experience some of which can lead to a variety of difficulties in later years.

Such difficulties may present as anger, sadness, anxiety, challenging behaviour, and emotional dysregulation. Traditional ‘talk’ therapies can be a struggle for adults when trying to put feelings into words, and therefore more of a challenge for children. Play is a child’s natural medium to communicate, learn and explore their world.  Through the metaphor of play children can express their difficulties and try to make sense of their life experiences. Play therapy can enable children and young people to shift perspective of their difficulties so that they are less likely to internalise blame. Children can experience a feeling of empowerment and increased self-esteem to better manage the challenges in the real world.

Children can be supported  to work through their difficulties by a trained Play Therapist, who will help them make sense of their world. The underlying principle of Play Therapy is the relationship the Play Therapist develops with the child. The Play Therapist aims to build a warm, trusting relationship with the child creating a feeling of safety allowing them to express their thoughts and feelings. To provide a predictable and safe space, the Play Therapist will ensure each session takes place on the same day and time each week.

What kind of difficulties and life events can Play Therapy help with?

Play Therapy is usually appropriate for children aged 3-12 years and can help with a wide variety of difficulties such as family breakdown and separation, chronic Illness, life-limiting illness, bereavement, complex trauma, neglect, attachment difficulties, children accommodated by the local authority, adopted children, children with global development delay, anxiety and issues around self-esteem and affect regulation.

How long does play Therapy take?

This will vary for each individual child. A short-term intervention can be from 12 to 15 sessions. Some children with more complex issues may require support for longer. Parents and carers are given the opportunity to meet with the Play Therapist at various stages throughout the intervention and share any concerns or change their child may present with.

Fees

Fees are charged per hourly session. The number of sessions will depend on the child’s individual needs, but a minimum of 12 sessions is suggested, this is not including assessment and review meetings. A fee will also be charged for any initial meetings with parents to gather background information prior to commencing Play Therapy. Child Parent Relationship Therapy fees are also charged hourly and can take place on an individual or group basis.

Please contact me to discuss your needs on the email below.

thewholechildcardiff@gmail.com

Mobile: 07500888877 please leave a message and I will return your call as soon as possible.