“Toys are children’s words and play is their language”
Gary Landreth (Author and play therapist)
Play is how children discover and make sense of the world around them.
Child-centred play therapy is a form of counselling especially for children. Sometimes experiences happen before children have the language to describe them and at other times children find that they do not want to use words to describe their lived experience and feelings.
Play is a safe way for children to work through their issues and challenges, at a pace they can tolerate. It enables them to make sense of their memories, experiences, and feelings in a child friendly way.
Child-centred play therapy is available to children who are experiencing a wide range of social and emotional challenges. It is also a supportive therapeutic intervention for children who have experienced trauma, or been exposed to family violence, or situations that involve grief and loss.
Child-centred play therapy can also support children and young people who are impacted and confused by the changes resulting from the COVID19 pandemic, natural disasters and climate change concerns. It is particularly useful for those who are struggling to talk about these issues and make sense of the changes around them.
In play therapy children get to explore a range of topics that are meaningful to them such as:
Change
Challenges
Grief and loss
Social relationships
Emotions
They can play out different solutions and scenarios and learn:
New skills
Emotional regulation
Resilience
Play therapy is a therapeutic process that works at the child’s pace allowing understanding and then healing to unfold naturally and in accordance with the child’s needs.
By exploring their inner and outer worlds in play, children begin to make sense of their lived experience, resolve their difficulties and experience increased confidence and self-worth.
