WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY & HOW CAN IT HELP?

Play is a child’s language and it is through play that a child is able to express themselves. Play Therapy works for a child in a similar way to how counselling works for adults. Play is a channel between unconscious awareness and emotional experiences, allowing children to understand confusing feelings and unsettling events that they aren’t able to talk through in the way adults can.

When children have had difficult life experiences and/or have muddled and confusing emotions, Play Therapy can provide the space and support for children to explore and understand these experiences and feelings. The therapeutic process of play in Play Therapy facilitates children to alter their perception of difficult events in their lives, enabling them to ease any related suffering and develop a range of safe, effective methods of coping. Through Play Therapy children can be empowered to manage their feelings and in doing so increase their self-esteem and ability to handle their individual situations.

The Therapeutic Relationship

The therapeutic relationship that develops between a play therapist and a child in Play Therapy is very important as it enables a trusting environment. A child must feel comfortable, safe and understood in order to openly express his/her thoughts and feelings and attain the most benefit from therapy. It is essential that a child knows their parent/primary carer is supportive of their Play Therapy sessions in order for them to feel truly free to express themselves.

As in adult counselling, Play Therapy sessions are confidential. If a child felt their Play Therapy sessions were being openly discussed this would inhibit their play and hinder positive change. However, a play therapist will meet with parents/primary carers at regular intervals to discuss progress in therapy sessions and hear about any changes or shifts that parents/primary carers have noticed in their child’s life at home and/or school.

When would a child be helped by Play Therapy?

There are numerous reasons that a child may be referred for and benefit from Play Therapy. These include but are not restricted to:

Bereavement, divorce, hospitaliztion or another emotionally traumatic event
Physical, emotional or sexual abuse
Developmental trauma
The child is (or is in the process of) being adopted or fostered
The child or a close family member is affected by an illness or developmental difficulty
The child suffers from anxiety, stress, phobias, low confidence, disturbed sleep, withdrawal, bullying, regressive behaviour or continued unhappiness
The child shows significant shifts in behaviour such as anger, aggression, withdrawal, confidence loss, selective mutism, bed wetting, nightmares, not wanting to come to school or any other notable changes

FAQ

Will Play Therapy help my child?

As with all therapy there is no outcome guarantee but it is highly unlikely that a child will not have a positive shift in behaviour, cognition, affect, attitude or beliefs. The child directed freedom of expression that is offered in Play Therapy will naturally draw out the problems and difficulties that a child is experiencing and in doing so, allow them the opportunity to alter perspectives and behaviour.

How long will it take?

It really does depend on the child, their current situation and how long the difficulties they have experienced have persisted. For some children, a short term intervention of approximately 20 sessions will be enough. For children who have persistent or complex problems it will likely take more than 20 sessions for them to respond.

When and where will Play Therapy sessions take place?

If a Play Therapy referral has be made through a school weekly sessions will take place at the school. If Play Therapy sessions have been arranged through a service (such as the Post Adoption Support Team) or privately, sessions will take place at the Orchard Centre (on Unthank Road) in Norwich.

It is really important that these sessions have consistency and are on the same day and time and in the same place every week. This is important for the child to feel safe and contained, and for the development of a secure relationship between the child and Play Therapist.

If a session needs to be cancelled for unavoidable reasons by either parents/carers or the Play Therapist, a protocol will have been discussed of how they will be cancelled.