Play is a vital part of a child's development and helps them interact and engage in the world around them.  Play Therapy is a Child Centred Therapy that helps children understand their muddled feelings and make sense of their life experiences within a play environment.  Play Therapy gives the child the opportunity to explore their feelings and to express themselves at their own level and pace without feeling interrogated or threatened. In Play Therapy you don't have to explain anything you can just play rather than using words.

​

Play Therapy is a confidential space that:

​

• Gives children emotional support.

• Improves their communication and social skills.

• The child can learn/understand more about their own feelings and thoughts and improve their emotional literacy.

• Play Therapy gives space for children to make sense of or come to terms with traumatic or difficult life or past experiences. 

• To manage relationships and conflicts in a more appropriate way.

​

What does a Play Therapist do ?

​

A Play Therapist will build a trusting therapeutic relationship with the child by carefully listening to them,observing their body language and responding to their actions and choices through reflections.  The Play Therapy environment gives a child the opportunity to explore their sometimes overwhelming emotions in a safe space where their feelings can be explored and contained and provide the child with a healthy sense of inner growth.  

​

If you would like further information please see www.bapt.info/ and www.professionalstandards.org.uk for more details.