Play Therapy is...
Play & Creative Therapy is a developmentally appropriate modality of therapy, for children and young people. It is a type of person-centred creative therapy.
Play Therapy is a regulated profession, look for a therapist registered with either PTUK, PTI, or BAPT. Play Therapists have to complete a Post Graduate qualification, attend regular Clinical Supervision, complete ongoing professional development courses (CPD), hold insurance, be ICO registered, and are GDPR compliant.
In Play Therapy children can explore their life experience, self, behaviour and feelings as they appear through play and creative forms in conscious and unconscious therapeutic process.
Play and creativity are natural forms of communication & self expression, especially for children and young people.
It is developmentally appropriate for children, and does not rely on them having to verbalise feelings (they don’t have to talk or use words), the child can process at their own pace and ability.
The Play Therapy ‘tool kit’…
- art materials (paint, chalks, felt tips, crayons, pencils, charcoal…)
- collage and craft materials
- puppets
- musical instruments
- dressing up box (role playing)
- sand play with ‘small world’ figures and objects
- clay
- games
- dolls house
- books
- messy play (water, sand, clay, play doh, cloud dough etc).
- fidget toys and sensory play
Positive & proven outcomes
Emotional needs
80% of children who attend play therapy with Dear Soul Play & Creative Therapy improve their SDQ score (strengths and difficulties questionnaire, a clinical tool widely used to measure therapeutic outcomes).
Improvements are consistently seen in areas such as the child’s confidence, peer relationships, emotional regulation, behaviour, hyperactivity, and general wellbeing.
Reducing anxiety & improving coping
Children who experience anxiety, including separation anxiety, feel much better about school attendance - noted in feedback from children and parents / carers.
I believe in myself
Children consistently report enhanced confidence, self-esteem, joy and happiness through play therapy participation.
Play therapy offers space to be, and be accepted as you are. It is especially affirming for children who may be, or are diagnosed, neurodivergent.
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