What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a specialised, evidence-based form of psychotherapy that supports children’s emotional wellbeing and mental health. Children do not always have the words to explain how they are feeling or what they have experienced. Instead, they often communicate through play – their natural language.
Play therapy can help children who may be experiencing anxiety, loss, grief, anger, trauma, low self-esteem, relationship difficulties, or other emotional challenges.
A Play Therapist uses an integrative holistic approach, providing carefully chosen toys, creative materials, and therapeutic mediums that enable children to express themselves in ways that feel comfortable and natural.
As children engage in the therapeutic process, they can develop greater emotional awareness, healthier ways of coping, improved self-confidence, stronger relationships, and an increased ability to navigate life’s challenges. By supporting children at an early stage, play therapy can have a lasting positive impact on their wellbeing, helping them to thrive both now and in the future.
At the heart of effective play therapy is collaboration.
Parents, carers, and school staff play an important role in supporting a child’s therapeutic journey. Throughout the process, the play therapist works closely with the adults around the child, offering guidance, practical strategies, and regular feedback to help create consistency and positive change across home, school, and other important environments. By working together, we can build a strong support network that helps children feel understood, supported, and empowered to succeed.
In addition to Play Therapy, we offer …
Group Play Therapy
Group Play Therapy can be an effective strategy for children who don’t quite meet the threshold for Play Therapy. By forming a small group (3-6) of children experiencing similar difficulties, the Play Therapist is able to offer support in a nurturing group environment. This strategy is particularly useful for building children’s self esteem.
Family Support
Parents and carers are provided with three parental support sessions throughout each child’s Play Therapy process, as well as our dedicated Play Therapists being available for extra support, if needed.