Child-centered play therapy is a respectful, specialised and unique way of working with children. Based on solid theory, it is one of the most thoroughly researched models of play therapy. It is just like talking therapy is for an adult. Play therapy enables communication with a child who needs help, and is an ideally suited intervention for children with emotional and developmental difficulties. This may include experiences such as moving school, house or country; bereavement or loss of a care-giver, grandparent, friend or pet; prenatal or birth trauma; experiencing an operation or witnessing an accident; sibling rivalry, difficulties at school such as bullying or with schoolwork; disability or chronic illness in the family.
Play Therapy is a time when children get to play out the experiences they cannot put into words. A Play Therapist (specialist child counsellor) works alongside them to help them make sense of these difficult, confusing or distressing memories.
Children have a wonderful capacity to cope, adjust and to make sense of life. But they often have difficulty expressing in words how they feel and how experiences have affected them.
The toys in the playroom are specifically chosen to allow the child to experience their life in play, and with the assistance of the therapist, to find a workable solution to their difficulties and grow.
The playroom resources help children gain insight and enables problem-solving processes.
The child chooses their own activities, and sets the pace and content of their sessions. They are not directed by questions, or asked to do things. They don't even have to talk as their play communicates for them. The play therapist is trained to enter the child's world of play and follow the child's lead, to participate in the play at the child's invitation or direction. The play therapist builds a relationship of trust with the child, provides emotional support and a place of safety. Child-centered play therapy allows children to:
express a wide range of feelings express creativity
explore real-life experiences develop self-control
develop self-understanding find appropriate ways of coping
develop a positive self-image take responsibility for their choices
control their behaviour
Play Therapy is a time when children get to play out the experiences they cannot put into words. A Play Therapist (specialist child counsellor) works alongside them to help them make sense of these difficult, confusing or distressing memories.
Children have a wonderful capacity to cope, adjust and to make sense of life. But they often have difficulty expressing in words how they feel and how experiences have affected them.
The toys in the playroom are specifically chosen to allow the child to experience their life in play, and with the assistance of the therapist, to find a workable solution to their difficulties and grow.
The playroom resources help children gain insight and enables problem-solving processes.
The child chooses their own activities, and sets the pace and content of their sessions. They are not directed by questions, or asked to do things. They don't even have to talk as their play communicates for them. The play therapist is trained to enter the child's world of play and follow the child's lead, to participate in the play at the child's invitation or direction. The play therapist builds a relationship of trust with the child, provides emotional support and a place of safety. Child-centered play therapy allows children to:
express a wide range of feelings express creativity
explore real-life experiences develop self-control
develop self-understanding find appropriate ways of coping
develop a positive self-image take responsibility for their choices
control their behaviour
Find out more about how you can use similar skills at home to support your child
Contact me now to make an appointment.