In the world of child development, play is more than just fun—it's a vital language for our children. As adults we forget how to play, but for children, it’s a natural activity and is essential.
Children often struggle to verbalise their thoughts and feelings, especially when faced with challenging situations. This is where the magic of play therapy comes in. Your child may be a particular age chronologically, but emotionally they can present as a lot younger in their development, due to early experiences, even as far back as in utero, and pre-verbal.
Play therapy acts as a gentle bridge to help children express their inner worlds. Like a secret code, toys become their words, and play becomes their voice. Children will go where they need to and when they are ready, usually when safety and trust has been established. This approach is particularly effective for preschool and school-age children, and can address a wide range of developmental challenges.
The Safe Haven of the Play Therapy Room
In the safe space of our play therapy room, children can explore their experiences—both real and imagined—in a way that fosters insight and builds emotional capacity. It's a nurturing environment where they can freely express themselves, learn to regulate their emotions, and master new skills. Toys, sand trays, puppets, and arts and crafts can all be manipulated by children in an expressive manner, in ways that makes perfect sense to them.
Observing each child's unique play style, giving them autonomy in their choice of toys and the types of play they want to engage in, we start by building a trusting relationship that becomes the safe haven and the foundation for healing and growth. Yes, your child will test me as the therapist, but my full acceptance of who they are in the moment will not wither!
Why Children's Strengths Matter
Play therapy is beneficial for both neurotypical and neurodivergent children. Here we accept and embrace unique differences, through a neuro affirming lens, helping children to recognise and celebrate their own strengths. By tapping into their natural strengths and addressing their unique challenges, we pave the way for improved well-being and success across various aspects of their lives. What a wonderful empowering way for children to grow and flourish!
Research spanning over 80 years backs the effectiveness of play therapy, showing positive impacts across diverse populations and settings, and across a wide range of presenting conditions and challenges
Our child-centred approach helps children:
-Develop a more positive self-concept
-Assume greater self-responsibility
-Become more self-directing, self-accepting, and self-reliant
-Experience a feeling of control and feel self-determination in decision making
-Develop an internal source of evaluation to experience feeling in control, able to cope and learn to trust themselves
We Support You as the Parent
We understand that the concept of play therapy can be puzzling for adults, especially when children have advanced vocabularies. Rest assured, the power of play goes beyond words. It's in the gentle unfolding of consistent safety and trust between your child and me, the therapist, that true growth occurs. Nurturing your child's emotional world through the transformative power of play is what we are committed to. Our collaborative approach with parents is also invaluable, and you will be included through parental reviews and sessions along the way. Please feel secure in knowing that reaching out to ask me more is ok. Be kind and compassionate to yourself.
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