PLAY THERAPY

Play Therapy is a form of child counselling and psychotherapy that is evidence based and trauma informed.

Best suited for children aged 2 years - 12 years.

Play is a child's natural way of communicating, and play therapy helps children grow self-esteem, discover a healthy approach to communicate with others, and enhance resilience and interpersonal skills.

Many childhood concerns can be addressed through play therapy, including: Behavioural, Emotional, Developmental, Social and Psychological.

Non-directive/child-led play therapy is assisted by a play therapist. A child will often play past life experiences. In Play therapy t hey are encouraged to express, explore, and make sense of their emotions in a secure environment.

BENEFITS OF PLAY THERAPY

LEARN NEW SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

LEARN TO FEEL AND EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS.

CREATE INNOVATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES

DEVELOP COPING STRATAGIES AND INCREASE RESILIENCE

BUILD ACCEPTANCE OF SELF

BETTER MANAGE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS, MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES

LEARN TO BE MORE ACCEPTING OF OTHERS

IMPROVE THEIR SELF-EFFICACY

“Play is the child’s natural medium of self-expression.”

Virgina Axline (Founder of play-based therapy)

Structure of Play Therapy

Pre-screening Call/Discussion of Referral
Intake
Assessments
(This may be completed over multiple sessions)
Intervention begins
(Duration depends on individual goals and needs)
Mid and End Parents reviews may be booked

Himelstein C. Non-Directive vs. Directive Play Therapy – What Is the Difference? | Sunshine Child & Family Counseling, LLC [Internet]. Sunshine Child & Family Counseling, LLC. 2021 [cited 30 August 2021]. Available from: https://www.sunshinechildcounseling.com/non-directive-vs-directive-play-therapy-what-is-the-difference

O’Connor C, Stagnitti K. Play, behaviour, language and social skills: The comparison of a play and a non-play intervention within a specialist school setting. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2011;32(3):1205-1211.

Sarah B, Parson J, Renshaw K, Stagnitti K. Can children’s play themes be assessed to inform play therapy practice?. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;26(1):257-267.

PLAY THERAPY

BENEFITS OF PLAY THERAPY

LEARN NEW SOCIAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

LEARN TO FEEL AND EXPRESS YOUR EMOTIONS.

CREATE INNOVATIVE AND IMAGINATIVE SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES

DEVELOP COPING STRATAGIES AND INCREASE RESILIENCE

BUILD ACCEPTANCE OF SELF

BETTER MANAGE DIFFICULT EMOTIONS, MEMORIES AND EXPERIENCES

LEARN TO BE MORE ACCEPTING OF OTHERS

IMPROVE THEIR SELF-EFFICACY

Virgina Axline (Founder of play-based therapy)

Structure of Play Therapy

​

Pre-screening Call/Discussion of Referral

Intake

Assessments(This may be completed over multiple sessions)

Intervention begins(Duration depends on individual goals and needs)

Mid and End Parents reviews may be booked

O’Connor C, Stagnitti K. Play, behaviour, language and social skills: The comparison of a play and a non-play intervention within a specialist school setting. Research in Developmental Disabilities. 2011;32(3):1205-1211.

​

Sarah B, Parson J, Renshaw K, Stagnitti K. Can children’s play themes be assessed to inform play therapy practice?. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 2021;26(1):257-267.

​

​Schaefer, C. (2011). Foundations of Play Therapy (Second ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Assessments
(This may be completed over multiple sessions)

Intervention begins
(Duration depends on individual goals and needs)

Schaefer, C. (2011). Foundations of Play Therapy (Second ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.