What is Play Therapy?

Play & Creative Arts therapy is an effective, expressive therapy which enables a child to enter into a dynamic relationship with the therapist. This enables them to express, explore and make sense of their difficult feelings and events that are hard to express verbally. For children it can be difficult to articulate what is wrong, or express their feelings through words. Play Therapy is a non-directive and child-centered form of therapy which  helps children find healthier ways of communicating, develop fulfilling relationships, increase resiliency and facilitate emotional literacy. This is achieved by using different creative tools such as therapeutic Play, Sandplay, Art, Music, Drama, Dance and Storytelling.  It allows the child a chance to deal with and ‘play out’ issues in a free and protected space without being judged.

 

Why is this work so important?  

It is an alarming statistic that one in four children suffer from a psychological disorder and an even more worrying fact that one in ten children have a diagnosable mental health difficulty. That's almost five children in each UK classroom.  As a Play Therapist I value and understand the importance of positive mental health of all children and I am proud to say that I provide child-centered emotional and mental health support through Play Therapy.

 

Who does it help? 

Play Therapy is mainly for children but the use of Creative Arts therapeutically isn't restricted to any particular population and could be accessed and benefitted by any child or adult. It is actually a form of creative counselling instead of talking therapies.  

 

We offer therapy to those who have

•Communication difficulties

•Behaviour problems

•Emotional problems

•Low Self esteem

•Relationship/Friendship issues

•Anger issues

•Academic under performance

•Anxiety issues

•ASD & ADHD

Those who have experienced

•Social exclusion

•Bereavement/Loss

•Bullying/Bullies

•Domestic violence

•Traumatic experiences

•Abuse and Neglect

•Divorce/Separation of Parents