Play Therapy is about the healing aspects of creative work with children or special needs clients. Play therapy is child/client centred and non-directive. A therapeutic intervention during the early years can have a preventative effect. By developing effective and appropriate styles of relating with others, children can be helped to channel their energy and feelings creatively rather than destructively (or self-destructively).
What sort of problems can be addressed?• Developmental Delays
• Behavioural difficulties - angry, defiant or anti-social children
• The withdrawn or socially isolated child
• Issues of sexual or physical abuse
• The bullied and the bullies
• Children who live in a 'toxic' atmosphere e.g. witnesses to domestic violence
• Attachment difficulties - children who have experienced broken attachments through fostering, adoption or bereavement
• Post-traumatic stress
Play therapy provides children with the ability to safely access experiences, discharge energy, integrate memories and regulate emotions.
Michelle primarily uses a non-directive approach to support and encourage children in their work. However for children with developmental delays a more directive approach may be needed.
Parents are involved in the therapeutic process on a regular basis and will work together with the therapist to develop activities in the child’s daily life that will help support their social and emotional needs.
