Play Therapy helps children to express their thoughts and deal with their emotional problems, using play and creative arts as the main communication tool, rather than relying on words.   

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The Play Therapist's role is similar to that of a counsellor, except that they are primarily responding to the child within their world of play and metaphor. Even though much of what happens in a Play Therapy session is based within play or creative activities a common outcome of Play Therapy is that children become more able to articulate their feelings to the adults in their lives.

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The relationship between the therapist and child provides a confidential space for children in which to explore their feelings and emotions with a therapist  who is trained to attune to the child’s feelings, and help them bring about change, particularly in relation to how they see themselves, the world, and others.

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Play and the therapeutic relationship promote healing and growth in many ways. Here are just a few:

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• The child has the opportunity for self-directed trial and error and exploration, and in this way can develop self-confidence, self-knowledge, trust, and resilience

• All feelings are accepted but not all behaviour is accepted: appropriate boundaries allow the child to accept their feelings and find healthy ways to express them

• Imagination, creativity and concentration/focus are cultivated.

• Difficult feelings or trauma can be approached safely, gently and playfully. The processing and release of feelings is able to happen on the levels of both body and mind

• Often a deep sense of wellbeing and a calming of fight/flight/freeze response systems will occur.

• To give the child or young person insight into their own behaviour by providing a safe, non-judgemental and accepting space for the child to ‘play out’ any feelings and reflect upon them

• To give children and young people an age-appropriate way to creatively explore difficult feelings or past experiences.

• Improved emotional wellbeing will often result in improvement both socially and academically

• To instil confidence in the child or young person’s own ability to resolve their problems and respect boundaries

• To improve behaviour and emotional wellbeing enhancing their prospects for a happy and healthy future