About Play Therapy

Play Therapy is a developmentally sensitive mental health intervention for children. Play is the natural language of children. The use of play enables children to communicate more effectively, both verbally and non-verbally. Play is not only essential for promoting child development but has many therapeutic powers to bring positive change.

Play therapy is possibly the longest researched psychotherapy modality for children, which spans over eight decades. Meta-analysis, developments in neurobiology, and individual studies support the principles embraced by play therapists.

The approach is a way of being with children rather than a way of doing something to or for children. By creating a therapeutic relationship, the child has the potential to positively self-direct at their own pace, allowing an increase in self-esteem, self-actualisation, and resilience. A play therapist can gain insights into a child’s problems and help the child learn new coping mechanisms to facilitate healing.