"Toys are the children's words and Play is their language"
- Gary Landreth

​

Play therapy is an age appropriate form of counselling for children. Play therapy offers child a space to express their thoughts, feelings and emotions in a way that  is easier for them, through PLAY! As adults, even we find it challenging to talk through and understand our thoughts and feelings, so we can only imagine how hard this is for a child. Play therapy meets the child where they are at developmentally and allows them to explore their world in a pace that is safe and comfortable to them. 

​

At Power of Play Counselling, we adopt a child-centred approach which means that the child takes the lead in the room, making decisions about what they would like to engage with and how. This is an incredibly empowering experience for children which is often makes the process much more enjoyable for them (getting children to exit the playroom can often be the more difficult issue - but a good issue to have!).

During their sessions, children engage with the therapeutic resources in the room, inviting the therapist to share in their personal views of the world, their experiences, their relationships and their sense of self. 

​

The role of the therapist is to hold a sense of safety, calmness and trust within the therapeutic space, that ultimately allows children explore their internal world more deeply. Empathy, authenticity, trust and unconditional positive regard form the foundations of the therapeutic relationship in play therapy. Beyond the relationship, the therapist implements specific skills and techniques that assists in increasing children's understanding of their internal world whilst feeling heard and supported by the therapist. 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 their emotions and neurological system. 

​

So what do I expect when I bring my child to Play Therapy?

​

When you arrive with your child, you will be greeted downstairs by the therapist. The therapist will invite your child upstairs to the playroom where they will engaged in 1:1 Play Therapy. If your child has difficulty separating from you, then the therapist may invite you to enter the playroom with the child. The aim then is to slowly work towards moving you out of the playroom at a pace that is comfortable for you and your child. This may be during the session or over the course of multiple sessions. While your child is in Play Therapy, you are welcome to wait in the waiting room downstairs. If there are no risks to your child or therapist, and your child can toilet themselves, you are welcome to take a walk down the street while you wait. We just ask for your diligence to return before the end of your child's 50 minute session to avoid any upset to the child. If the therapist feels there is something important to discuss, they may take you aside if appropriate to do so, or offer to give you a call later. Otherwise, more thorough handovers will be offered in the parent consultations.

​