What is Play Therapy?

Play therapy is an evidence based, developmentally appropriate form of therapeutic support for children and families. The aim of play therapy is to assist children in addressing and overcoming a range of social, emotional, psychological, and behavioural challenges they may be confronting, through the medium of play.

 

The trained therapist creates an environment where children can freely express their authentic self, allowing exploration of and challenges they are working through and ultimately, facilitating therapeutic change. Why play? Because it is a child’s most natural form of communication! Play opens a window for the therapist to understand a child’s inner world; their thoughts, feelings and experiences. Through play, children can learn to understand and master the world around them.

 

Play therapy is developmentally appropriate, does not rely on language and is accessible to a wide range of individuals. It can support children with:

 

• ASD

• ADHD

• Anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Trauma experiences

• Family complexity and separations

• Social and relational challenges

• Emotional and Behavioural challenges

• Chronic illness or disability

• School related difficulties

• Grief and loss

• Developmental delays