Who can it help?
Play is vital to every child's/young person's social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language development.
Play Therapy helps children/young people in a variety of ways. Children/young people receive emotional support and can learn to understand more about their own feelings and their thoughts. Sometimes they may re-enact or play out traumatic or difficult life experiences in order to make sense of their past and cope better with their future.
You may wish to refer a child or young person for Play Therapy if they have experienced any of the following:
- The effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Separation anxiety
- Domestic violence
- Trauma such as emotional abuse, physical abuse or sexual abuse
- Divorced or separated home environments
- Bereavement or a form of loss
- Have been subjected to any kind of trauma
- Have been bullied or initiated incorrect behaviour
- Is at risk of being/is excluded from school
- Behavioural issues, challenging behaviour (SEBD)
- Nightmares or has difficulty sleeping
- Delayed development or has a disability/learning difficulties
- Unwell
- Anxious/has phobias or fears
- Autism Spectrum, Asperger’s Spectrum, ADHD
- Social exclusion
- Underperforming and not realising their full potential in terms of academic performance
- Withdrawn or unhappy
- Difficulties with self-expression, confidence and self-esteem.
- Struggles to make friends
- Adopted/fostered or in the process of being
- In care
And others that may not be listed.