Play therapy

Children and adults experience the world and express themselves in very different ways. An adult’s natural form of expression is language, while children’s natural form of expression is play. Play is important to the development of children in many ways, including facilitating logical memory, abstract thinking, emotional regulation, mastery of language, and physical and motor development.

Play therapy helps children to:

• explore emotions

• identify and work through challenging experiences

• organize thoughts

• nurture mastery and resilience

• improve relational abilities

• make sense of self, other and the world, through the use of metaphor and symbol

Play therapy can help children work through many issues, including:

• difficult emotions, such as anger, worry and anxiety

• grief and loss

• divorce and separation

• blended family adjustment

• bullying

• emotional regulation

• problems relating to peers or siblings

• trauma

• self-identity and self-esteem

Play therapists are trained to work with children from a developmental perspective to identify themes in the children’s play, and then to creatively work with different interventions (puppets, sand, clay, games, books, art) to help the child work towards resolution and healing.

At River's edge Counselling Centre, our child therapists understand the unique ways in which children process experiences and information, and how play can be used to help children to heal and grow.

Our playroom is fully equipped with a sandtray, art materials, therapeutic toys and board games. Our approach is to work with children from a holistic perspective in a safe, respectful environment. Caregivers are always included in the process and are considered essential to a child’s therapeutic success. When required, other helpers (doctors, teachers) may be included in the therapeutic process. Our experience has shown that therapy is most successful on a long term basis when parents and guardians are actively involved in the process.