Play Therapy
For children aged 3-12
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy utilizes play which is children's natural way of self-expression. It is a developmentally appropriate and evidence-based intervention to help children to express themselves and complex feelings, and externalize experiences that is otherwise difficult to verbalize. Play Therapy also helps children to process and resolve psychosocial difficulties, for personal growth, healing and development.
Common questions:
What ages is Play Therapy suitable for?
Play Therapy is particularly suitable for children aged 3-12. Play is the language of children and it is through play that children process, explore and make sense of their experiences both past and present.
Play-based approaches could also be suitable for ages 12+, although
there would be more conscious and verbal processes occurring in the therapeutic space.
How is Play Therapy beneficial?
Play fosters emotional wellness, facilitates communication, increases personal strengths and enhances social relationships in children. Play therapy has been established as a developmentally appropriate therapeutic intervention for children. The therapist tracks and reflects the child's play and is an external regulator for the child to learn to cope with stressors and increase emotional and self-awareness.
What helps to support my child in sessions?
Having regular caregiver sessions is often helpful as parental involvement helps to facilitate and support the child's progress. Caregiver sessions provide a structured time for caregivers and the therapist to share updates relating to the child's progress, observations and concerns how the child is responding to changes and challenges. This would also help the therapist understand the child's needs more comprehensively and also provide parenting skills and emotion coaching as needed to caregivers to adapt parenting styles and strategies.
How do I support my child throughout the counselling process?
It helps to set clear expectations to minimize worry and anxiety for your child and name what is happening.
1. Bring your child regularly. Consistent sessions help your child develop and maintain a trusting relationship with the therapist.
2. Allow your child to dress comfortably. Children may use different materials in sessions, such as paint/markers for non-verbal self-expression.
3. Do not question your child about their counselling session or press your child to talk about particular issues with their counsellor.
What children talk about and express during sessions is private between them and their counsellors (except in situations when there is a safety concern). This is the most important component of counselling because it allows children to feel safe. Children will talk about difficult topics as they feel ready to do so or may be addressing them in other ways, such as through play or art.