Child-Centred Play Therapy

"Play is a child's language and toys are their words"

Play Therapy provides a safe way for children to explore and process difficult experiences. Through play, children experience healing in a way that feels completely natural and non threatening. Through play, children can 'get out', make sense of and reconcile any difficulties they are experiencing. Children don't even need to know it's therapy for it to be therapeutic.

When you ask what your child has done in their session with me, they'll say "I just played" and you'll wonder what you are paying for! It is my interactions with the child that are instrumental in the changes you'll begin to to see in them.

 The universal outcomes that every child comes away with are:

  • Increased self-esteem

  • Increase self control

  • Increased emotional regulation

  • A new concept of themselves and the world around them
  • Increased resilience
  • Processing of traumatic experiences

And importantly, they'll be happier, so you'll be happier.

Play therapy changes the child's sense of self (have you seen Inside Out 2?). This means that changes are internal to how they see themselves and the world around them. This means that changes are lasting and not problem specific. However, that also means that changes take time. You'll need to trust me and trust the process. It sometimes gets worse before it gets better as they work on new ways of behaving and interacting with the world around them.

The best way I can describe Child-Centred Play Therapy - it's just magical. I wish every child could experience it. Please click on the link below and it will open a document with some more information about Child-Centred Play Therapy and how it works.

 

Frequently asked questions

How long is each session?

Sessions last 45 minutes. Children must arrive and leave on time. This provides stability and consistency for the child and it gives me vital time to clean up between play sessions. A child who does not want to leave the session gives me the opportunity to validate their emotions but set a boundary. It's all part of the process.

How many sessions will my child need?

Most children need around 25 sessions but children with attachment disruptions or a history of trauma may need more. Young children or children with less significant difficulties may need less.

I work within each school term, so for most children this usually this works out as two terms of play therapy.

This length of time produces internal changes that are lasting and really effective, producing real changes in behaviour and emotional wellbeing.

How will we know when my child is ready to finish their therapy sessions?

There are some key indicators I will be looking for which show that the child is ready to finish their sessions:

  1. Their behaviour is consistent inside and outside of the play therapy sessions - ie, self-regulation learnt in the playroom is generalising to their everyday life
  2. Their therapeutic goals have been achieved and presenting difficulties have resolved
  3. They can demonstrate appropriate emotional expression, self regulation and self control for their developmental age
  4. They finish bringing new play themes into their play
  5. They begin to show boredom in the playroom or their play becomes stale and consistent every week.

Will I get to talk to the therapist about my child?

Every child is part of a family and it is really important to me that we work closely together.

We will meet for an hour before the sessions begin and then every 5 weeks for 45 minutes each time. In these meetings you will have the chance to ask me questions, share any concerns and let me know how your child is doing outside of the sessions. Although I cannot share the details of your child's play, I can share how your child is progressing, what stage of the process they are at, what themes they are working on and how you can best support them at home.

At our 5-weekly meetings I offer parenting support and suggest one thing to work on for the next month. Parents how found this very helpful.

I ask that parents/guardians do not talk about their child in front of them, so that means that we do not stop to chat before or after a session. You can contact me by email if there is anything urgent. Otherwise, please keep notes of things you want to discuss with me and we can talk at our 5 weekly reviews.

Will you tell me what my child does in the sessions?

No. The content of the sessions is confidential, just as therapy would be for an adult. However, I can talk to you in general terms about play themes and stages of the process. Your child may want to talk about their sessions with you, but please be accepting if they do not.

Please be patient with the process and trust that I am doing my very best to support your child and family.

Can I stay and watch?

The short answer is no. If a child struggles with separation anxiety, we may need you to stay in the beginning, but as soon as the child feels safe, you will be asked to leave.

Is there somewhere for me to wait inside?

Unfortunately no. I have a lovely big playroom but as I work from home, I do not have a waiting room. I ask parents/guardians to wait in their car. There is a local high street with lots of shops, a library and cafes, so once your child is settled, you are more than welcome to go and come back, as long as you return on time.

Please make sure your phone is on with its volume up so that I can phone you from the session if needed.

How much does it cost?

Play therapy sessions and parent consultations cost £60 each. Payments are due on the 1st of each month in advance of the sessions. Monthly invoices will be emailed.

What if I have paid and my child refuses to come?

We will try to prevent this from happening by a good introduction to play therapy, which I will help guide you in providing. It is really important that you understand that a child resisting coming can be part of the process. If you can get them to me, I can get them inside :)

Always talk positively about play therapy. They 'get' to come and have a special play time with me.

You can help by never turning play therapy into a power struggle between you. For example:

Never threaten that they won't be able to come to play therapy if they are badly behaved.

Never say "You have to go because this is costing me x amount of money". 

Don't talk to them as if coming is an option. You can prepare them by saying, "After school we're going to do x, then play therapy and then x".

Try to encourage cooperation by giving them a choice which includes coming. For example, "I have brought a snack with me. You can choose to have the snack before or after play therapy". 

After the first session I will ask them if they want to return for more play sessions (and they always say yes) - this way they are choosing to come and there are no power struggles.

What if my child is ill and misses a session?

I will do my best to offer another day/time that week but unfortunately I cannot promise to make up for missed sessions. If your child has a significant illness, or another unforeseen event happens, we can stop the sessions and another child will take your child’s place. They will go to the top of the waiting list and once they are recovered they can begin again.

What if the therapist is ill?

If I am too ill to run the session I will give you as much notice as I can. We will then decide together if it is possible to move the session to another day, delay the sessions by a week, or give you a refund. You will not pay for missed sessions that are my fault. Sessions are refunded at a rate of £60 per session.

I’m worried about being judged!

My place as a therapist is to support children and families, offering complete acceptance and understanding. I am not here to judge. I am also a parent and know first-hand the difficulties of raising children. Children need play therapy for a wide variety of reasons. My job is a privilege and I am here to help your child and support your family.

Finally - we must have an ending session.

Regardless of how many sessions your child has, they must have an ending session. Usually this is planned and we count down the weeks together. Endings can be difficult, especially for children who've already experienced loss. Therefore, an ending session is something that I insist on for every child.

Here are some photos of the playroom.

 

There are three main categories of toys which help the children to express themselves in different ways. Some examples are:

  • Creative 
    • Sand tray, drawing, play dough, puppets, musical instruments, Lego
  • Competence & self-control
    • Boxing bag, hula hoops, nerf guns, juggling balls, games, jigsaws
  • Role play
    • Dressing up, tools, kitchen, doctors, toy soldiers, dolls house 

 

 

All of the toys are carefully selected to help the children express themselves in different ways.

Through creative toys the children can express hidden feelings, process difficult experiences and release somatic distress.

Through competence play the children can practise tolerating frustration and celebrating success, develop a sense of achievement, learn to express emotions in appropriate ways and control their aggressive impulses.

Through role play the children experience being in control, in charge, looking after others, and can play out difficult experiences, helping them to make sense of them.