Play Therapy | Peaceful Minds Therapy 1

What is Play & Creative Arts Therapy?

Play and Creative Arts Therapy is a form of therapy that uses play, art, music and movement to help children and young people to express feelings, explore experiences and process trauma or emotional difficulties. It is most effective for children and young teens aged 4-14 years.

Play Therapy provides the child an opportunity to work through difficulties with the support of a trained therapist.

Using play means that a child can explore their thoughts and feelings in creative and dynamic ways, without having to use words to articulate themselves. It can feel safer and less intense for a child to express themselves or explore their experiences through play.

What will Therapy help with?

Play Therapy is beneficial for children who may be struggling to cope with things such as;

Low Self-esteem Anxiety Bereavement
Loss Being Withdrawn/Low Mood
Overwhelming Feelings (Sadness, Anger, Fear)
Attachment Difficulties
Significant change/disruption to Home life
Experience of Physical, Emotional, Sexual Abuse or Neglect
Sleeping Difficulties
Witnessing or being involved in an accident E.g. Car crash or Fire
Domestic Violence, Substance Misuse or Alcohol abuse at Home
ADHD, Autism or Social Difficulties

Play Therapy Tool Kit

Children are more easily able to express their thoughts, feelings and experiences when they have access to a wide range of creative tools, toys, resources. A well-equipped Play Therapy Toolkit uses a range of modalities to help support communication, connection, and healing in a safe space. Each medium holds its own therapeutic value which allows the therapist gain an insight into a child's inner world and can help them work through difficulties.

Sand tray and symbols
Arts and crafts
Dressing up
Therapeutic stories
Creative visualisations
Sand tray and symbols

Play Therapy Sessions

1:1 Play Therapy sessions will take place either at your child's school or within the Peaceful Minds Play Therapy space in Otford. Sessions last 40 minutes and will take place on the same day each week. A block of 12 sessions will be offered that will be reviewed at around 7 and then 12 weeks. Sessions can be more long term depending on your child's needs.

Group Play Therapy sessions can be carried out within school via a school referral or during the school holidays within my private practice. Group sessions consist of 4-6 children and follow more of a semi - structured plan. The sessions provide an opportunity for children to meet others with similar difficulties or experiences. A typical block would last 6-10 weeks and last between 50-60 minutes.

What to Expect

First, we will arrange to meet either by phone, zoom call or face to face either at school or within my private practice.
During the meeting I will answer any questions you may have about play therapy and find out more about the nature of your child's difficulties and behaviours that they may be displaying either at home, within school or both. It's an opportunity to discuss your family history and background. I will then ask you to complete a Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). This will give us a baseline score to then review sign an agreement and consent form for the therapy work to take place. We will then set some Hopes and Expectations that will be constantly reviewed throughout the therapy work.

We will meet for a review meeting at around 7 weeks. This will be a chance to discuss your child's progress and review the Hopes and Expectations that we will set during our initial meeting together. We will carry out another SDQ form and explore any shifts in behaviour that we may have been observed within the play room, at home and in their school setting.

At the end of 12 weeks, we will meet again to review your child's progress and discuss whether they wish to continue. At the end of the block of Play Therapy sessions, I will write and send you an End Report.