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~ Child-Centred Play Therapy ~
An age appropriate counselling approach to working with children and adolescents
Step 1 .
Initial Consultation
The first step in your play therapy journey involves sitting down with the play therapist for an Initial Consultation. This is an opportunity for you and the therapist to get to know one another before your child begins their play therapy journey.
In this session, you will sit down with the therapist and discuss the reason for seeking therapy and discuss what you hope to achieve. The therapist will then take a detailed developmental history to gain insight into the child and the family and social systems the child is a part of. It is also a great opportunity to learn more about how play therapy works and answer any questions you may have.
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It is ideal that both parents attend the Initial Consultation however, it is okay if only one parent can attend. We do ask that no children are bought to these sessions.
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Time: 1 1/2 Hours
Step 2 .
Individual Play Therapy Sessions
The next step in the play therapy journey is to begin the fun stuff... PLAY! Individual play therapy sessions occur at the same time, on a weekly or fortnightly basis. Children are invited into the playroom where they are invited to engage in therapeutic play at a pace that is comfortable for them. Children are not directed in how or what to play, but are empowered to take the lead themselves. The therapist empathically responds to child throughout the session in ways that are helpful in increasing their self-awareness, understanding and emotional regulation.
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The number of sessions require is really dictated by child and their situation but on average may range anywhere from 20 sessions onwards.
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Time: 50 minutes
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Step 3 .
Parent Consultations
Parent consultations are booked at the therapist's and family's discretion. These consultations are an opportunity for both the family and the therapist to provide feedback on how the therapeutic journey is going, to discuss whether there have been any significant therapeutic or personal changes and to
re-assess therapeutic goals.
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In these sessions, parents are provided with support in a non-judgmental environment and are encouraged to work with the therapist to explore area's within the parent-child relationship that are of challenge, and discuss potential strategies and approaches that may assist.
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It is ideal if both parents can attend these session however, we understand if this is not possible. We do ask that children do not attend these appointments.
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Time: 1 Hour
Play therapy
how does it work?
Play therapy is an age appropriate form of counselling for children and adolescents. Play therapy offers an alternative approach where children are able to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions through the use of play. In play therapy, children are invited to share their story and life experiences through role-plays, imaginative play and creative play. The use of toys is highly beneficial as it creates emotional distance for children to explore their thoughts, feelings and experiences in a way that feels safe and less confronting.
The beauty of play therapy is that children are not required to speak in order to communicate with the therapist. Therefore, play therapy is a highly effective approach for working with younger children and those who have limited speech. At Power of Play Counselling, we adopt a child-centred approach which means that it is the child that takes the lead during their sessions. It is up to the child to reveal what they would like to and at a pace that is safe and comfortable for them, which is an incredibly empowering and healing experience.
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The role of the therapist is to hold a sense of safety, regulation and trust within the therapeutic space. During sessions, the therapist implements specific skills and techniques that assists in increasing the child's exploration and understanding of their internal world whilst also feeling heard, validated and supported. As children begin to understand and process their experiences, they simultaneously build upon their sense-of-self, confidence, independence and are better able to regulate and modulate their emotions and nervous system.
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What Play therapy is not...
Teaching children to play
If you are after this service, reach out and I can direct you in the right direction
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A direct, strategy focused approach
Child-centred play therapy is child-led and therefore we do not focus on "teaching" children specific strategies. Rather child-centred play therapy focuses on enhancing children's sense of self through their own self-directed exploration and expression. This is based on the foundational belief that children will unconsciously and instinctively work towards resolution organically in their play.
A clinical assessment or diagnostic service
Child-centred play therapy is not focused on clinical, diagnostic assessment of children for mental health or developmental and learning disorders. Whilst play therapy can assist children who have various diagnosis, the therapist's role is to focus on the impact of the child's experience (in relation to the challenges of their diagnosis) and not on assessing for diagnosis. The therapist may be able to draw on observations made in sessions, and providing screening tools, to assist parents in appropriateness on exploring psychological assessment but is not in the position to provide specific diagnosis.
Reaching Out
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Getting Help
Reaching out is often the hardest step. No parent looks forward to the day where they have to reach out to a professional due to the concerns they have for their child. No parent waits for the day to be told their child is not developing to the expected 'norm'. So, asking someone for help can be an incredibly daunting and overwhelming experience. However, I believe that reaching out and asking for support is not a sign of weakness but demonstrates incredible personal strength. When I speak with parents for the first time, I hope to provide the parents with the same sense of safety and compassion that I provide children in the playroom. This is AS much a journey for the parents, as it is for the children. Recognising and understanding where a parent is at in the emotional journey is equally as important to me, as where the child is at. Holding space for the parent to express their worries and fears, and to help parents feel heard, validated and supported in their challenges holds an equal part in the play therapy journey at Power of Play Counselling.
With that being said, I want to acknowledge that finding the right therapist is not always easy. You may have had a bad experience in the past that has prompted some hesitancy in reaching out again. I get it, because I have been there too. I have undertaken much of my own personal therapy and sometimes I just haven't connected with the therapist, but that isn't to say someone else won't. My advice? Don't let one bad experience hold you back. Finding the right therapist is much like finding a "romantic partner" - It may take a few attempts to find the right therapist that you connect with. But once you do, the power of that connection is worth the pain in finding it.
As therapists, we all have similar educational backgrounds but they will vary quite extensively. Moreover, we are all still human! That means we all have our own unique values, beliefs and personalities. Take your time in doing your research and if possible, ask to have a conversation with the therapist first. And if after one or two sessions, you don't feel it is the right fit then don't be afraid to say so. At the end of the day, it is your time and money (or funding) that is being invested in this process so you want to make sure you are getting the most out of it.