"Enter into children's play and you will find the place where their minds, hearts and souls meet."
- Virginia M. Axline
I support children one-to-one or within small groups to explore their worries or difficulties in a safe and calm environment. I use an integrated holistic Play Therapy approach, allowing the child to choose what to explore in their own time using play and metaphor.
Play Therapy works in stages; Firstly, we build a trusting relationship, so they feel heard, accepted and safe to explore and express their thoughts and feelings.
Then, We explore different, safer ways to cope with these difficult feelings and emotions.
A course of therapy lasts for a minimum of 15 weeks and this allows a trusting relationship to be built. It may take longer for children with more complex experiences or lived traumas.
Some referral reasons include:
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Nightmares or disturbed sleep
- Bereavement
- Family breakdown
- Trauma
- Displaying withdrawn behaviours
- Peer on peer abuse
- Low resilience
- Experience of domestic abuse
- Aggressive tendencies
- Difficulties with emotional regulation
Play therapy can be cathartic for the child as they gain an insight into their emotional responses. They are given the freedom to express what they are going through. The benefits can be:
- The children can learn to take responsibility for their behaviour
- Gain coping strategies and learn to problem solve and make decisions
- Have better understanding of their emotions.
- Express their feelings more appropriately
- Improve social skills and form better friendships
- Reduce anxiety, gain confidence and build their resilience
- Build stronger family relationships
- Improve speech problems such as stammering, stuttering, baby talk, repetitious language and supports elective mutism
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