What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach that taps into children’s most natural means of learning and expression – play. Unlike traditional counselling, Play Therapy does not rely on words and speech since children’s cognitive abilities and verbal skills are still developing. Using play as a medium, kids can more easily express and work through emotions and experiences in a safe space that’s centred on them. This allows them to feel encouraged, accepted and free.
In addition to helping children through difficult times, Play Therapy can help them develop life-enhancing qualities such as confidence and resilience. It can also help improve family relationships by giving parents a greater insight into their child’s experiences.
Play Therapy is a well-established and evidence-based therapeutic approach for children founded upon psychological theories. It is widely used in the UK and US and is fast gaining recognition in Australia as an effective intervention.
For children, the most self-healing, natural and dynamic process is to play out their experiences and feelings.
Prof Garry Landreth
Director Emeritus of the Association for Play Therapy US
Principles of Play Therapy
Develop a warm and friendly relationship with the child
1
Accept the child as they are
2
Establish a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express their feelings completely
3
Be alert to the child's feelings and reflect these back in a way that facilitates the child gaining insight into their behaviour
4
Maintain a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve their problems and gives them the opportunity to do so
5
Not direct the child's actions or conversations in any manner
6
Not hurry the therapy along – it is a gradual process
7
Only establish those limitations necessary to anchor the therapy to the real world and to make the child aware of their responsibility in the relationship
8
Who can benefit from Play Therapy
Play Therapy can help children struggling with challenges including but not limited to:
-
Anxieties
-
Generalised, phobias, social, separation
-
-
Depression
-
Low self-esteem
-
ADHD
-
Autism Spectrum Disorder
-
Bullying/ being bullied
-
Domestic violence
-
Family breakdown
-
Abuse
-
Neglect
-
Medical trauma
-
Parental medical conditions
-
Self-harm
-
Bereavement
Play Therapy Toolkit
A Play Therapist’s toolkit provides a selection of therapeutic play equipment for the children to work with. More than just toys, these items are chosen for their ability to offer the children many different opportunities for self-expression and creativity – allowing them to explore and make sense of their world.
-
Why might Play Therapy be more appropriate for kids?Play is a child's natural medium of expression. Just as adults use words to talk out their experiences, children use play. Toys are words for children. Children's play is meaningful and significant to them. Through their play children extend themselves into areas they have difficulty entering in verbally. Children are able to use play to express what they cannot say, do what they would feel uncomfortable doing, and express feelings they might otherwise be reprimanded for verbalizing.
-
How can Play Therapy help my child?When in a safe environment and safe relationship with the therapist, a child can fully express and explore his/her feelings, thoughts, experiences and behaviours. Play can reveal what the child has experienced, the feelings about and reactions to what was experienced, what the child wishes, wants or needs, and the child's perception of self. Through the process of expressing themselves through play, children can learn perseverance, pleasure in having the ability to choose, self-direction, self-responsibility, and that they, along with their choices, are accepted. They develop the ability to problem solve which provides satisfaction and increases self-esteem.
-
Why is it beneficial for the child to lead the session?Children can feel that they have little or no control over their life experiences. It might feel sometimes like your child is the most controlling little person in the world but this behaviour is usually stemming from a deeper feeling of being out of control. In the play room, the therapist follows the child’s lead. It is the feeling or sense of being in control of the play therapy experience, rather than actual control, which is essential to a child's emotional development and positive mental health. Through the child expressing a specific behavior i.e. aggression in the play room, and the therapist acknowledging the child’s feelings, reflecting this and setting appropriate limits only when necessary, the child can learn self control.
-
What is the difference between playing at home and Play Therapy?Playing at home is important for your child's development. However, at Be Centre the child is playing with a therapeutic objective. The relationship between child and therapist also brings a therapeutic element to the room. It is different to the relationship between parent and child. The therapy session provides a consistent time for your child to choose how they play and what they play with, and an opportunity to just "be".
-
Should I ask my child what they did in a session/how the session went?It's best to leave it up to your child to decide if they want to share about their session with you. Try to resist the urge to ask questions like "what did you do?", "were you good?" or "did you have fun?". It's important therapeutically for your child to have a space where they can just "be", without judgement or expectation and not feel like they have to report back to anyone about it. A simple statement in the vein of "ok, let’s go home now that you've finished" would suffice. If your child wants to discuss their session content with you then of course that is totally fine. Our therapists will let you know what occurred during the sessions in the sixth-week parent review session. Please feel free to contact your therapist before the review should you have any concerning matters.
-
What happens if my child misses a session?We understand that kids, parents and therapists get sick or unexpected events occur. However, therapy is most beneficial when it is consistent and predictable for the child. If you need to cancel a session, please let Be Centre know as soon as possible. If your child is ill, please do not bring them to therapy. Please refer to Be Centre Cancellation Policy for more specific information.
-
Why is it important to be on time?When picking up your child from therapy, it is important to be on time. Sometimes children can feel anxious or worried when they walk out of a session and their parent isn't there. Our therapists also need time to clean and prepare the playroom for the next session.
-
What if I need some extra help with supporting my child through the process?Supporting a child who is experiencing emotional or behavioural difficulties can be challenging. If you need some extra assistance in supporting your child through this process, you are most welcome to book in a session with our parent support counsellor.
-
What if I need to talk to the therapist about my child?Try to avoid asking questions directly in front of your child before or after a session. If you have any questions or concerns, you are more than welcome to call/email the therapist at any time. You can also use the Weekly Parent Report sheet to update your child's therapist on what has been happening for your child that week.
-
What do I do when my child is in session?In the initial sessions, please stay in the waiting room in case your child feels anxious about starting and wants to know you are close by. We have a lovely waiting area with lots of parenting books and you can enjoy some quiet time for yourself. If you do need to leave Be Centre while your child is in session, please ensure your mobile phone is on so you can be contacted if necessary. Also during the session, if you have forgotten to fill out a Weekly Parent Report sheet and would like to do one, you can do it then too - just ask at reception for a copy.
-
What if my child's difficulties become worse while receiving Play Therapy?For some children the behaviour can get worse before it gets better. The play therapy process works with the child on many levels - consciously and unconsciously. The process can 'open up' the child and may repressed or ignored fears, anxieties or hurts can come out. This 'opening up' can cause behavioural or emotional difficulties to get worse but be assured it is part of the process and it is positive progress that the child is expressing these feelings. It is important to remain patient with your child and the process. Please speak with your child’s therapist if you are experiencing this and need support. Soon enough your child will develop the coping strategies to deal with these difficulties and their resilience will increase.
-
Why do I have to wait 6 weeks until the review session?As a parent it is natural to want to know everything your child is doing. The reason we have the first review after six sessions is because the Play Therapy process takes time and the therapist needs to get to know your child and vice versa. The first couple of sessions are treated as preliminary sessions where your child can get to know their play therapist and playroom. After 6 weeks we will have more observations to discuss with you and there is a greater window for you to observe any changes in your child. Please feel free to contact your therapist before the sixth-week review if you have any concerns.
-
What should my child wear and bring to therapy?If possible, dress your child in play clothes you wouldn't mind getting dirty. Your child might be playing with wet sand, paint, glitter or clay which may leave some marks on your child's clothes. It's important your child has the freedom to express themselves without worrying about getting in trouble for being messy. There are also paint shirts for your child to wear. Your child does not need to bring anything to the sessions.
