Play-Based Therapy Sessions
Our in-house fully qualified team of Child and Adolescent Therapists, provide one-to-one Play-Based Therapy sessions for children over the age of 3 years from the Centre’s fully equipped playrooms.
All of the Therapists are registered and approved members of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (The BACP) practising within their ethical framework and work in a child-centred way, using play, story-telling, creative work and talk, to help children express their thoughts and feelings in a way that is comfortable and natural for them.
At The Children’s Wellness Centre, all therapists working within our therapy rooms have undertaken specialist, in-depth training in counselling children and young people using developmentally appropriate, play-based and creative therapeutic approaches. We believe that working therapeutically with children requires a distinct set of skills, knowledge and experience that differs from adult counselling. If you are looking for a therapist for your child, we encourage you to ensure they hold recognised qualifications and specialist training in working with children and adolescents, rather than solely adult counselling qualifications. This helps to ensure your child receives support that is tailored to their developmental needs and delivered using evidence-informed therapeutic approaches.
What is Play-Based Therapy?
Counselling and Play-Based Therapy both have the same aim; to help support children to better cope with their experiences and emotions and bring about positive change, enhancing well-being and resilience.
Sessions for very young children are known as ‘Play-Based Therapy’ and for a child they often view this as a fun playroom full of toys and games that they are able to engage with in a non-directive way; meaning that they have full control over what they choose to play with and express to their Therapist. Play is a child’s first and natural language and provides a safe and self-guided way for children to express and process their feelings in a way that is most comfortable for them. The toys and art resources selected in the therapy rooms are carefully chosen to engage the child’s interest and to allow facilitation of creative and emotional expression, often without verbalisation.
Young children often do not have the verbal skills to express their emotions or anxieties, especially if they do not understand why they may be feeling a certain way. In particular, if your child has experienced trauma before their narrative and language skills were developed (i.e. before the age of 3), they only have visual memories or bodily sensations to remember their experiences; therefore, play and expressive therapies are the key in processing these. Responses from the Therapist aids children in developing a positive attitude to life, respect for themselves, acceptance of their feelings and how to express them responsibly. It helps children to develop self-control and direction, learning creative and resourceful ways to confront problems, whilst making independent, positive choices.
Play-Based Therapy is offered to children in pre-school and primary school; although sometimes older primary school children may prefer to talk more than play and the approach will be a mix of Counselling and Play-Based Therapy – more information about our Counselling Services can be found here.
What We Can Support With
Our therapists have worked with many children, as young as 3 and can support children experiencing grief, loss, parental separation, friendship issues and more. Some further common difficulties young children may experience, may include:
- Separation anxiety
- Struggling with nursery/school transitions and changes
- Coping with the arrival of a new sibling
- Excessive tantrums and struggling to manage their emotions
- Coping with a friend from nursery/school leaving
- Coping with the transition of a house move
Please see our Counselling/Play-based Therapy FAQs found here for further information regarding the overall process with children young people.
Our Process
Step
Please complete our Contact Us form with some information about your child, including the days they are available to attend sessions. Once we receive your enquiry, our Clinic Co-ordinator will be in touch to arrange your child’s first appointment with one of our therapists.
After the initial session has been confirmed, your child’s therapist will contact you by phone to learn more about your child, discuss their needs, and answer any questions you may have before the first appointment.
Step
Your child will then attend their initial consultation. This is usually an individual session, although if they are feeling anxious, you are welcome to stay for the first part. The session allows your child to get to know their therapist, become familiar with the playroom, and decide whether they feel comfortable with this way of working.
It also gives the therapist the opportunity to ensure they are the right person to support your child. The cost of the initial consultation is £80.00.
Step
After the initial consultation, your therapist will email you to share how the session went and whether they feel this type of therapy would be beneficial for your child. If everyone feels it is the right next step, we will arrange ongoing weekly sessions. These are charged at £80 per session and are usually payable monthly.
There is no minimum number of sessions, as every child is different and therapy should progress at a pace that feels right for them. However, meaningful and lasting change often takes time, so regular attendance is important. To give your child the best opportunity to build a trusting therapeutic relationship and benefit from the process, we ask that weekly sessions are only booked if you feel you can commit to attending consistently.
Due to high demand for sessions, there may be a small wait until we can see your child, but we will always do our best to offer a session as soon as possible.
All Therapists working within The Children’s Wellness Centre are clinically trained in supporting the mental health of children and adolescents, are DBS checked, registered members of The British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy and all hold individual Professional Indemnity Insurance
Pratima
Taylor
Sharon
Dolores
Irene
