1:1 Sessions For Children

Play is a natural medium of a child’s self-expression; it is a language through which they connect, communicate and develop. 

Play Therapy seeks to engage with and meet the child where they are at within their inner and outer experiences, helping them to make sense of their world. It provides an opportunity for the child to understand and process their muddled feelings, daily stressors and challenging events that they haven’t had a chance to work through. 

Play Therapy also enables the child to express their big feelings freely and safely. Developing a strong relationship/connection with the child through the medium of play, helps children prevent or resolve any psychosocial difficulties they are experiencing.

Siobhan's sessions are child-centred, and she integrates Play Therapy and Psychotherapy. 

Play therapy can be used as a preventive measure and beneficial to every child, helping them develop emotional intelligence.

Example of referral issues may be:

- Early years disruptions 

- Emotional issues

- Behavioural issues

- Developmental delays

- Bereavement or loss

- Communication difficulties (Mutism)

- Family disruptions (Illness/Divorce)

- Trauma

- Bereavement or loss

- Abuse or neglect

- Chronic illness/hospitalisation

- Bonding and attachment issues

- Fostering, adoption and identity issues.

- ADD, ADHD, Autism

- Elective Mutism

- Anxiety

- Bullying

- Low Self-Esteem

- Poor play skills

NOTE: Play Therapy is a psychotherapeutic intervention when offered by a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, who is qualified to work with complex issues such as trauma, attachment disruptions and mental health concerns. Psychotherapists can provide a developmentally appropriate intervention. 

The relationship, interactions and role in supporting your child throughout the therapy process is of great importance to their mental, emotional and social development.

You will be encouraged to engage in playful interactions with your child. See below a few key factors in supporting your child through Play Therapy:

- Develop empathy to enable a better understanding of the child’s emotional needs;

- Practice ‘Being’ with the child rather than always ‘Doing’;

- Resist the urge to ask your child what they did, as this will put pressure on the child to comment on something they may have difficulty understanding themselves;

- Try not to insist that your child tell certain things. It is their time and they must feel free to express themselves at their own pace;

- Guide without criticising;

- Set aside time to engage in play with your child.

It is important for parents to be made aware that children will work through their challenges at their own pace, whilst the therapist holds the space in supporting how each child may respond to the process.

For some children it may take a while to see changes, and often behaviours may become more prominent as the child learns new ways of processing their big feelings and learning adaptive behaviours.