What is play therapy?

Play therapy is a form of child-led psychotherapy for children who are experiencing emotional or behavioral difficulties. We can think of Play Therapy as equivalent to any adult therapy forms using words. As adults, we may find it difficult to discuss our emotions; it is more difficult for children and young people as they have not developed an ability to explore their experiences cognitively. Play Therapists use therapeutic methods to enable children and young people to process their feelings impacting on their daily lives.

Play Therapy sessions may look like normal play; however, they require play therapist’s solid understanding of child development and methods that help to support what children need during the exploration of difficult feelings. Symbolic distance created by play allows children to stay in comfortable distance from reality, so allows them to explore their inner world safely.

I will use play therapy sessions to observe the child or young person and gain deeper insights into their problems. I will then use this analysis to help them to explore their emotions and guide them towards dealing with any difficulties and/or traumas that they might be dealing with. My role as a Play Therapist is to accommodate a safe therapeutic environment which promotes positive changes in the child.