Play Therapist

A Play Therapist is a qualified mental health professional who has completed additional training to become a Registered Play Therapist with the Australian Play Therapists Association. Play Therapists are skilled at establishing therapeutic relationships with their clients, allowing children to explore their fears, struggles, and hopes within a safe and supportive environment. A child’s play can reveal valuable information about the child’s experiences, their emotional maturity, and overall development. Within Play Therapy, children can develop skills and experiences which support their psychosocial growth and development.

Who can benefit from Play Therapy?

Play therapy can support children as young as 2 years of age, through to late childhood and event into adolescence. Play Therapy can benefit children experiencing the following difficulties.

• Shyness, anxiety, and stress
• Grief and loss
• Aggression and self-harming
• ADHD
• Learning difficulties, including planning and executive functioning challenges
• Parental separation
• Exposure to challenging family circumstances, such as violence, trauma, abuse, and neglect
• Autism and sensory disorders
• Attachment disorders
• Intellectual impairments

What does a Play Therapist do?

Within Play Therapy, children are supported to explore their inner worlds through the modality of play. Children are provided with a safe space to explore their feelings and experiences through self-initiated play. Play Therapy has a range of benefits including:

• Increased sense of self
• Increasing tolerance of frustration
• Support self-regulation
• Support decision making
• Increased impulse control
• Enhanced connections with others, supporting the development of healthy relationships

Play Therapy Services:

• Initial consultations
• Individual sessions
• Consultation and parent education
• Workshops and Training