Play Therapy

Service Description

Play therapy is the preferred method of working with children as they tend to naturally express themselves and their feelings through the medium of play. Play therapy is non-directive and provides a safe place for children to express their difficulties, anxieties, wishes, and conflicts without having to articulate them verbally. For children younger than five years of age parents may be included in the therapy room whereas parents of older children are given regular feedback between therapy sessions. Play therapy may be helpful for: • Anxiety, worrying, difficulty separating from parents • Depression or persistent feelings of sadness • Sleep difficulties • Behavioural problems (for example lying, stealing, defiance) • Bereavement and loss • Anger problems/ tantrums • Toilet training difficulites • Trauma • Adjustment concerns and stress (for example following a divorce, or a change in home or school environment) • Relationship difficulties with parents, siblings, and/or peers • Bullying • Gender Identity concerns • Poor self-esteem • Inappropriate sexual behavior My approach to play therapy is developmentally informed and responsive to each child’s individual needs. Through play, children are supported in expressing emotions, processing experiences, and developing greater emotional understanding. I work collaboratively with parents to support the child’s emotional development and to strengthen relationships within the family system.