Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You have taken the first step and sought support and advice from a professional Play Therapist, who will work with you in facilitating a therapeutic intervention to meet your child’s needs.

Play therapy is a non-directive child-led form of therapeutic intervention, where toys and creative mediums act as the child’s words and play and activities are the language through which they speak. This approach supports your child to be able to make sense of their ‘muddled’ feelings and/or any upsetting events in their lives. So, if a child is stuck in their development due to something that happened accessing this therapeutic approach can help get them back on track. As well as relieving symptoms the goal of play and creative arts therapy also helps to build self-esteem, improve ways of expressing emotions, helps improve communication, and helps improve relationships.

The physical space of the ‘play/creative arts room’ and the trusting relationship creates a safe place for your child to bring all their hopes, fears, thoughts, and behaviours. During each weekly 40-minute session, they decide what creative medium or activity to engage in or not. They direct the session and instinctively know what they need to do to process what is going on for them. This can be deep work, working from the unconscious to the conscious but always at the child’s pace.

The role of the therapist is to provide a trusting relationship in which the child is felt ‘held and safe’. This makes it easier for the child to express themselves and seek out a solution to their problems. Through this support children gain insight and become aware of their mental well-being and what is needed to stay on track now and in the long term.

The proverbial ‘how long is a piece of string’ comes to mind. Each child is unique and will respond to the intervention in different ways. The recommended initial contract is 12 sessions with a review meeting after session 9 where we will discuss your child’s progress.

If referral concerns have improved, we will agree to end. However, if we feel your child will benefit from further sessions we may agree to continue the intervention until you feel your child has made appropriate progress with their emotional wellbeing.

The importance of the therapeutic relationship is paramount. Your child needs to develop trust with the therapist and feel they are in a safe space where there is no judgement.

Parents are invited to wait in their car or waiting room for the duration of your child’s session as it communicated a greater degree of supports and avoids complications and inconveniences of unintentionally arriving late, or in the event your child chooses to end the session early.

Just like if an adult attended a counselling session, when a child attends, they too need to know ‘I won’t tell anyone what we do in here’. However, I do update you on how the sessions are progressing generally. The only limitation to this confidentiality is if your child tells me someone has hurt them. I then inform your child that we will talk to someone who can help them. As parents, you are their guardians and will be informed of any concerns or disclosures in advance of appropriate action being taking.

Honesty is the best policy. Using age-appropriate language, explain to your child that you have met a lady named Simone, who loves to play with children. Simone has a lovely space filled with lots of things that you can use to help you sort out any ‘muddled, angry, sad, worried or confused feelings about things, and that this may help you feel better’ with whatever is most relevant to your child’s referral concerns.

As parents, be consistent and encouraging to your child about attending sessions regularly. Be there to listen, reflect on what you hear and connect with them in positive ways. This will help support them to know they are safe and understood. Resist the urge to ask them about their sessions, as this may put pressure on them to comment on something they have difficulty understanding themselves. Don’t insist your child tells certain things as this is their time, and they need to express themselves at their own pace. Please be mindful that behaviour or emotional expression often gets worse before they get better, where your child may show increased aggression and/or regression. Please keep in regular contact with me and we can navigate this process together.