What is Play Therapy
Play and Creative Arts Therapy is a non-directive support for children who are experiencing difficulty within their lives. This style of therapy encourages healing of a child’s emotional self at their own pace. It is carried out on the principles of confidentiality and takes a non-judgemental approach to supporting children.
Play under these conditions allows the child to develop a sense of trust in the process and express feelings which otherwise may have remained hidden. My role is to support the child in their healing and recovery and is not of an investigative nature.
Identifying levels of need for play therapy is gained through using a brief behavioural screening questionnaire known as the Goodman Strength
and Difficulties questionnaire. This is completed by each parent separately and also by the child’s teacher. This provides an insight into how the child behaves at home and at school to provide me with a complete view of the child’s behaviour and needs.
Play as a Therapeutic tool
My mission is to turn the world of play into a powerful tool for children. This guides children to an understanding of their experiences tailored to their developmental stage.
My Duty as a Play Therapist
As a Certified PlayTherapist, I am dedicated to boosting resilience, crafting coping strategies, and diminishing problematic behaviors; working closely with the child’s parents/guardians throughout a child’s therapeutic journey.
The input of Parents Matter
Parent involvement is key to successful therapy for children. This may appear different based on individual circumstances. Individual parent communications are not discussed with either parent, unless it is in the best interest of the child. However, both parents can attend for meetings where this is the norm for a family.
Confidentiality
Respecting client confidentiality is a fundamental tenet for building and keeping trust between therapist and client. What occurs within the play therapy sessions is confidential with the exception of any child protection disclosures which will have to be shared with the relevant bodies in accordance with Children’s First Guidelines. Any reports required will not discuss the child’s therapeutic process, merely themes in his/her play showing the child’s progress.
