PLAY BASED THERAPY

Play therapy is a therapeutic modality that dates back to more than 100 years ago. It's first recorded use was by Sigmund Freud's student with the famous"Little Hans" case. (Pehrsson & Aguilera, 2007) Play Therapy is "based upon the fact that play is the child's natural medium of self-expression. It is an opportunity which is given to the child to "play out" their feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual "talks it out". Play therapy is client-centered and non-directive.

Children don’t have developmental capacity to talk about experiences, so natural language is play and play therapy facilitates this in a safe room with the therapist. The focus of this type of therapy is the relationship between child and therapist. Play helps process experiences, learn boundaries and release emotions which in turn, develops emotional regulation and increases receptive and expressive skills vital for social relationships.

Goals that play therapy address? Indirectly addresses emotional regulation, social skills, self-care skills, protective behaviours (safety) Processing experiences such as trauma, inter-generational trauma, grief and loss Increasing self-esteem, resilience Research paper to be referenced

How long does my child need to be in play therapy? 

• Case by case basis 

• On average, 20-25 sessions but again dependent 

Do I need to be in the room as a parent/carer? 

• Child can choose this as play therapy is a child directed modality but if need assessed in intake that parent would benefit then yes 

• Frequent 1 on 1 sessions between therapist and parent are recommend