Play Therapy

Play is the work of children! Play facilitates the child's physical, intellectual, emotional and social development. In healthy play, children grow and learn, building a strong brain that is necessary for healthy adult living.

When children experience difficulties, they will play out the difficulties, reworking the issues until there is resolution of the problem. The play process is like adults talking out problems with friends and peers until they have developed a solution to their problem.

If children are unable to play out their problems (perhaps they do not know how; the environment may prevent them; there are child-specific factors) the child becomes stuck and is unable to resolve the problem. In this situation parents will typically see a variety of negative emotional responses and behaviors as the child's internal system becomes increasingly overwhelmed.

Childhood is hard work!

There are many struggles that children experience in their school and social lives that challenge their abilities to cope. Children may show temper tantrums, explosive/moody behaviour or headaches, stomach aches, sleep difficulties, heightened fears and clingy behaviors over a period of time.

Some children and families are able to resolve the problems and the symptoms go away. If a child, with the help of parents and significant others, is unable to deal with their struggles then the

child is usually referred to a therapist, specifically a Play Therapist.

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy developed half a century ago with therapists using interventions directed at the play (language) of children to help the child work through problems. Different styles and approaches of Play Therapy have evolved over the last few decades. Research has shown the effectiveness of different types of play therapy to help children with a variety of different issues.

What Play Therapy can help with ....

Divorce and Family conflicts
Bereavement, grief and loss issues
Health related issues and chronic illness
Family Violence
Trauma
Physical, Sexual and Emotional abuse
Bullying and peer related issues
Low Self-esteem
Fears and Anxiety
Sadness and Depression
Anger and Oppositional Defiant Behavior
Attention Deficit and Compulsive Behaviors
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Attachment related issues
Social-Emotional Issues

Play Therapy is ideally suited to children 3-12 years of age.If you, friends/relatives, or other professionals assess your child to have problems in his/her physical, emotional, intellectual and/or social development, or someone has diagnosed your child with a mental health disorder, please contact me to set up a confidential appointment. Research has shown, the earlier we intervene to help children, the more effective the outcome. You can learn more about a person in one hour of play than you can in one year of conversation.