One-on-one therapy that allows your child to express and explore self
“A dynamic interpersonal relationship between a child and a trained Play Therapist who provides carefully chosen play materials and facilitates the development of a safe relationship for the child 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”
What is Humanistic Play Therapy?
Humanistic Play Therapy is one-on-one therapy for children 3 to 13 years of age; that helps children to express themselves, make sense of big feelings and learn new coping strategies that can be used in everyday life.
Humanistic Play Therapy has been in use since the 1940’s and is a non-directive intervention founded on child-centered (client-centered) values. Play therapy has been shown to be a developmentally appropriate treatment method when working with children.
Humanistic Play Therapy generally takes place once a week in a playroom filled with a range of toys, arts and crafts, instruments, books, dress ups and other play materials. The resources used in the playroom are tailored to meet the unique needs of every child and family to support a wide range of expression and exploration through play. As part the approach the therapist’s endeavours to express unconditional positive regard, empathy and congruence. This is the basis in which a warm, caring relationship can develop so the child feels free to explore and express themselves completely.
Who will benefit from Humanistic Play Therapy?
Children who has social, emotional or behavioural difficulties will benefit from Humanistic Play Therapy. For example:
• Children with low self-esteem, who lack confidence, or who may be shy, quiet or withdrawn
• Children who've experienced a bereavement more than 6 months ago (e.g. death of a significant person or pet in the child's life)
• Children with low or moderate anxiety or childhood fears (e.g. fear of the dark) or children struggling to cope with change (e.g. transitioning to school, moving home, birth of a new sibling)
• Children with peer problems (e.g. problems forming friendships, bullying)
• Children with a sibling or parent who has a mild disability or chronic illness, or a
biological child of a family who fosters children
• Children with toileting issues (e.g. encopresis, enuresis, bedwetting) or sleep
disturbances (e.g. nightmares)
• Children exposed to a single incident trauma (e.g. witnessed or involved in a minor
motor vehicle accident, a mild physical injury, mild medical or dental procedure, natural disaster) or vicarious trauma (e.g. media exposure to distressing events or adult rated content in gaming or videos)
• Children with individual differences (e.g. vision or hearing impairments, dyspraxia,
dyslexia, dysgraphia), or children struggling to keep up with peers academically or
socially
• Children who have mild to moderate difficulties regulating their emotions or arousal
How long does Humanistic Play Therapy go for?
Play Therapy sessions generally go for 50 minutes and are most effective when they take place at the same time every week.
Prior to commencing any type of intervention, your play therapy will conduct a comprehensive intake interview with the primary caregivers.
The number of Play Therapy sessions needed varies from child to child. For some children, short term intervention (15 sessions minimum) provides enough support to work through tricky feelings and difficult experiences. For other children, perhaps for those who have experienced more complicated or ongoing challenges, longer term intervention may be required (more than 24 sessions).
How are parents and caregivers kept in the loop? Play Therapists maintain regular communication with parents and caregivers through regular feedback sessions (every 4-6 weeks). Feedback sessions are an important part of the Humanistic Play Therapy process. During these sessions, parents and caregivers have the opportunity to ask questions about their child's progress in therapy and share things about how their child is going at home and at school or kinder. At this time, the Play Therapist may also make some recommendations for other supports for the child and family. If need be, parents and caregivers can get in touch with their child’s Play Therapist by phone or by email in between feedback sessions.
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