Play Therapy.

Play therapy is defined as the dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child (or person of any age) and a therapist trained in play therapy procedures who provides selected play materials and facilitates the development of a safe relationship for the child (or person of any age) to fully express and explore self (feelings, thoughts, experiences, and behaviours) through play, the child’s natural medium of communication, for optimal growth and development (Landreth, 2012).

Therapy is a safe place for coping, healing and learning.

Who can benefit from Play Therapy?

Children between the age of 2 and 12 who have experienced or have:

Abuse or neglect

Anxiety & depression

Autism & ADHD

Behavioural & emotional concerns

Communication difficulties

Difficulty engaging with other therapies

Emotional difficulties arising from physical disabilities

Experienced trauma

Family issues such as divorce or illness

Grief or loss

Self-regulation difficulties

Social and school difficulties

Play Therapy can help children with a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioural, and learning difficulties.

Play allows children to comfortably express themselves and their experiences in a way that feels more natural and safer to them.

While it states children between the ages of 2 and 12, it is also important to note that older children may benefit from Play Therapy.

Play Therapy can help children:

Develop independence

Increase self-esteem

Develop self-regulation skills

Improve social skills

Process trauma

Build resilience

In simple terms, Play Therapy is an age-appropriate form of counselling for children and teenagers, and can have many benefits!

Often children do not yet have the communication skills or understanding to talk through what is going on for them like adults can.

Play is a language that comes more naturally to children and is typically an easier and more comfortable way for children to communicate what is happening in their world.

Through Play Therapy, Danielle is able to help young people reach their full potential and lead a happier life.

Child Centred Play Therapy.

In Child Centred Play Therapy, also known as CCPT (non-directive play therapy), the therapist allows the child to take the lead. The therapist is flexible and is willing to go where the child’s play takes them. By doing this, the therapist makes room for the child to reveal what is troubling them in a natural manner. The therapist doesn’t set the parameters for the session. They don’t purposefully try to guide the child into a pre-planned conversation. Rather, as the child acts out scenarios or makes up stories during play, the therapist is given a natural “in” to track and follow their play themes. In non-directive or child centered therapy the therapist does not interject with therapeutic interventions.

Directive Play Therapy and AutPlay®

Directive Play Therapy is an intervention that allows for relational experiences between the therapist and the child while using play as the principle means of communication. It differs from Child Centered in that the sessions are lead by the therapist.

In directive play therapy, the therapist sets out with specific interventions and goals in mind. During the play sessions, the therapist knows where they want to take the discussion. Often toys and activities are chosen ahead of time, by the therapist. And they will initiate play situations that purposefully attempt to lead the child to discuss the problems at hand.

No matter which approach is used, a deep understanding of the healing power of play is still at the heart of the sessions.

AutPlay® Therapy was created by Dr. Robert Jason Grant and is an integrative family play therapy approach to help address the mental health needs of autistic and neurodivergent children (ages 3-18), including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, social anxiety, sensory regulation, developmental and physical disabilities.

Sand Tray Therapy.

Sand tray therapy, is a therapeutic approach often used with those who have suffered some form of trauma. neglect, or abuse. Whilst this therapy is especially well suited for young children, who often cannot express their inner feelings in words, it is also a technique that is helpful for some teens and adults who are having trouble expressing themselves and who may have suffered some form of severe trauma.

Research shows that sand tray therapy can help increase emotional expression while reducing the psychological distress that may come from discussing traumatic events or experiences.

Sand tray therapy is based on the notion that if a therapist provides the client with a safe space, the client will use the sand tray to create solutions to their problems on their own.

NOW ACCEPTING REFERRALS.

The Nurtured Village accepts self referrals, from any family who feel they may benefit from our services, you can self refer by simply hitting the ‘get in touch’ button or by completing a referral form in the menu bar. We also accept referrals from Department of Child Protection, other allied health professionals and non-Government organisations.

Get in touch