Play is Healing

I believe that Play has a healing quality and that the Play is a natural form of self-expression, a medium for experimentation, communication and learning.  Through play a child can make sense of feelings, frustrations and new experiences.  Play can be joyful and care free but also serious work. 

Play Therapy is a holistic approach using play as a means of ‘helping’ in a non invasive way the ‘whole’ child.  By this I mean: the physical, emotional, cognitive and spiritual aspects of a child.  This understanding is open to the conscious and unconscious, the past, the present and the future. 

Non-Directive Play Therapy is a child centred technique and it can be an individual intervention or work in small groups.  It normally requires a therapist, play materials and the use of a private room free of interruptions.  It works better with children from the age of 3.5 up to 15, but it is also a valid intervention for other ages (16+) with special needs or young people who might not feel comfortable with verbal communication.  Non-directive Play Therapy is also a valid experience for adults who work with children or young people and wish to connect with their inner child.

Basically a Play Therapist provides a safe space for the child to express his/her feelings and then reflects them back in a way that make sense to the child.  Play is the medium that comes naturally to the child and the relationship between the child and the therapist or therapeutic alliance is at the centre of the healing process.

Your child’s Play Therapist will have a selection of play materials from which your child may choose. These may include art and craft materials, dressing up props, sand and water, clay, small figures and animals, musical instruments, puppets and books. The Play Therapist will enable your child to use these resources to express him or herself without having to provide verbal explanations. Your child will be allowed to take the initiative and for an hour have the complete attention of a respectful and non-judgmental adult.  As a therapist and as a parent I am aware of how important it is to take parents/ carers into account and not just to blame them for everything that does not work, feedback sessions are very important and time to reflect and discuss is part of the treatment.  I work following the ethical principles of BAPT and I am also interested in some of the training offered by PTUK. 

Up to now I have been practicing Play Therapy in different environments and found and learned new aspects to the process.  Working within a CAMHS environment gave me the opportunity to work with a great variety of ages and it also allowed me to experience working with a parent in the play room.  It also provided me with invaluable input from Primary Mental Health workers, Psychiatrists and case workers, as well as foster parents.

Working in schools gives you a whole new set of experiences and skills such as making a Play Room out of almost any available space. It also strengthens your resolve to defend its value and confidentiality with your life!  You learn to work with Teachers, Headteachers, janitors, supply staff and students.  You might also have the opportunity to contribute at Panels, Team meetings and Case Conferences.

I have had the opportunity to work at Family Centres for charities such as Action For Children and Princess Royal Trust for Carers and the experience has widen my horizons and given me an appreciation of how different organisations work.