PLAY THERAPY
‘You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation' - Plato
Play Therapy is a form of counselling that involves the use of creative communication. Research has shown that Play Therapy is an effective intervention to help children deal with their emotions.
Play Therapists are skilled professionals who use play as a means of communication to help children and young people process and express their emotions and experiences. Children use symbolic play to communicate at their own level and pace. The therapist is guided by the Axline Principles, which include ‘accept the child as he or she is.’
Overview of The Play Therapy Programme - 14 sessions
There are 14 sessions in total. These comprise of two parent only sessions, and twelve sessions with the child or young person.
The Play Therapist will meet the parent and/or guardian to gather referral information. This initial session allows the parents an opportunity to discuss their concerns. The initial session is one hour long; the therapist will take a brief history. The therapist will agree therapeutic aims with the parent and/or guardian. The child is not present at this meeting.
The parent and/or guardian and child will be asked to complete the Goodman Strengths and Difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) at the start of the therapy, and again at the end as a means of monitoring the progress. If appropriate, the child’s class teacher can complete an SDQ too.
Following the initial meeting, a schedule will be drawn up for weekly sessions. Children attend for 12 weekly sessions. Each session is 50mins in duration.
The parent and/or guardian and child will be asked to sign a contract agreeing to maintain consistency in attendance. The therapist will discuss the referral concerns with the child at the initial therapy session and will listen to the child’s perspective. The voice of the child is paramount to the therapy process.
A review meeting will be scheduled around week nine of the programme. Towards completion of the programme, the parent and/or guardian and the child will be asked to complete an evaluation of the service provided.
At all times confidentiality is paramount. The therapist will not directly discuss the child’s play with the parent and/or guardian unless a safe-guarding/safety concern arises.
Play Therapy is a short term intervention and cannot guarantee ‘a quick fix.’ Central to the success of the therapy is transparent, open trusting relationships between all concerned.
Children access therapy for a variety of reasons including:
- Generalised anxiety
- Relationship difficulties
- Difficulties with friendships, bullying, siblings
- Grief/loss
- Changes in family circumstances
- Separation/divorce
- Issues arising from Fostering/Adoption
- Attachment difficulties
- Trauma
- Sleep issues
- Nightmares
- Selective Mutism