Big Feelings Play Therapy

Connect

Play

Heal

Thrive

What can I expect from Play Therapy?

In Play Therapy, your child will come into the playroom while you wait in the waiting room. You may hear banging, laughing, yelling and ​singing - or it may be silent. Most of the time your child will leave regulated, but sometimes the session is hard for the child so they ​may need extra cuddles and affection from you. Your child may want to tell you everything that happened, or they may want to keep ​it to themselves - both are acceptable.


What if I need to talk to the therapist about my child?

Play Therapy is a safe space for your child, and we try to minimise negative conversations about your child in front of them. We will ​organise parent/caregiver update sessions every 4-5 weeks where I ask that the child not be present. In these updates, we will ​share progress, check in with each other and you will have opportunities to share. If you have time sensitive questions or concerns, ​then you are welcome to email me directly.

Can I be in the session with my child?

Play Therapy is designed to create a confidential and safe space for the child and that means having their parent/carergiver wait in ​the waiting room. However, we always strive to ensure that the child is comfortable and if that means having you in session with ​them, then we will accommodate that, usually with a slow, gentle separation over multiple sessions. Coming into session on their own ​can be a milestone for children and increase their independence and confidence.

Should I discuss the sessions with my child?

Play therapy is an important time for children to ‘just be’ without expectations or pressure to talk about their sessions. If your ​child does initiate sharing about what they did in their sessions, that’s absolutely fine! At parent updates, I may also suggest ​strategies for you to use at home that you can discuss with your child.

What if my child is getting worse not better?

Sometimes children's behavioural or emotional challenges can become worse before they get better while they are in therapy. This is ​because the process can bring up feelings, anxieties or hurts that may have previously been repressed. This is part of the process, ​and over time your child will develop resilience and coping strategies to deal with these challenges.


How regular will the sessions be? Can we choose to do fortnightly instead of weekly?

Research has shown that weekly sessions are most beneficial for children. Fortnightly sessions are an option, but it's important to ​note that progress in therapy is typically slower with this frequency and will require more sessions overall as building and maintaining ​the therapeutic relationship is more difficult.

If Child-Centred Play Therapy is non-directive then how is it different than just playing at home?

Playing at home with your child can be hugely beneficial to them, and I definitely recommend it! In Play Therapy I build on the ​therapeutic powers of play with the psychological element of therapy and the communication of play to make it truly impactful. When ​your child comes to play therapy, they can focus without distractions from home, like siblings, sharing, or embarrassment. We create ​a safe, trusting environment with unconditional positive regard, building a strong therapeutic relationship that is different to the ​parent-child relationship and sometimes being a step away can help me to objectively look at the whole picture. I will use tracking to ​stay engaged with your child during play, and our carefully selected toys help them express feelings and work through challenges. We ​look for recurring play themes to gauge progress and reduce challenging behaviors.


How long does a typical therapeutic journey take?

Child-Centred Play Therapy is generally considered to be a short-term therapy, where the majority of children move through four ​stages over a period of six to eight months. A rough estimate of around 20 sessions depending on the concerns and goals your child ​sets. Over this time we will work together as a team and meet regularly at parent updates every four to five weeks to ensure that ​we are communicating about any progress or possible regressions, and other issues that may be going on in their world.