What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy helps children and families to address a range of difficulties and to enhance wellbeing. Play Therapy is generally suitable for children aged 3-12 years of age.
Play Therapy provides children with the opportunity to get to know themselves, to express themselves and to make sense of confusing feelings or painful experiences in the best way they know how – through play. Instead of relying on words and ‘talking things out’ like adults do, children ‘play things out’ to make sense of their thoughts, feelings and experiences.
In a safe and supportive therapeutic environment, play facilitates communication, fosters emotional wellness, enhances social relationships and increases personal strengths. Play Therapy harnesses these powers of play to prevent and resolve social, emotional and behavioural difficulties faced by children.
Who should go to Play Therapy?
Play Therapy can help children and their families with a range of difficulties, including social, emotional or behavioural issues.
Play Therapy can help children:
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with lots of worries, anxiety or sadness
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to increase self-esteem and confidence
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experiencing bullying or struggling with friendships
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with sleeping, eating or toileting issues
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making sense of change, like parental separation/divorce or the loss of a loved one
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who are struggling to manage their big emotions in a safe way
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have experienced something difficult, scary or traumatic
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strengthen relationships with peers, siblings and parents/carers
There are various types of Play Therapy that can best support children and their families. You can talk to your Play Therapist about which type of Play Therapy might be best for your child.
