WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?

When an adult goes to see a counsellor or a psychotherapist they normally communicate using words. They simply talk about their thoughts and feelings.  However, children are often not as comfortable using words as adults are. In Play Therapy the child uses the medium of play to explore themselves, their thoughts and their sense of the world.

Through therapeutic play the child is able to identify, work through and resolve emotional conflicts that are too painful or too difficult to express verbally. By using play materials and ‘pretend’ or ‘imaginative’ scenarios the child is able to comfortably work on their difficulties. Another possibility in the playroom is that the child can work outside conscious awareness. In other words the child might be unaware that they are in fact resolving conflicts through their play.

 In nearly all cases play therapy is one on one, with just the child and play therapist present. The personal nature of play therapy allows a safe and secure bond to form between the therapist and child which is so important to allow the child to fully express themselves and explore their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. In short, toys are the words and play is the language!