Play Therapy is a safe and nurturing therapeutic space where children can communicate through play. Play is a natural way for children to express their world, deepest emotions and experiences without having to use words.  

Play Therapy is a theoretical based form of child therapy that is developmental age appropriate, non-directive and child led. There are several modalities of Play Therapy, with Child Centred Play Therapy being the core modality I practice.

As the sessions are child led, children are never suggested or encourage to play a certain way. They can be spontaneous and completely themselves during the sessions.

Children often ‘play out’ real life or inner experiences of their world in sessions. This helps them process trauma, unresolved issues, as well as past, current or future experiences. By ‘playing out’ the child is inviting me to see what their world is like. As children play it helps them make meaning of their experiences. 

Play Therapy can also assist with managing emotional and social difficulties that the child is experiencing. Play Therapy offers the child a safe space to do this where I will use techniques that supports the child to work through difficulties, problem solve and develops skills for the child to manage those difficulties.

I am gentle, present and mindful during every session while being a co-regulator for the child. I get to the child’s level, practice attunement, and go at their pace. By practicing in this way, I want to ensure they feel respected, safe and secure to be their true self without judgement.

In sessions I support the child to work through and understand their emotions in an indirect and low demand way that is done via modelling, co-regulating and using specific play therapy skills. Play Therapy is seen as a ‘bottom up’ approach with the child doing the intrinsic work with a highly trained therapist.

Child Centred Play Therapy sees the therapeutic relationship as being essential in successful intervention for the child. I focus on the therapy as ‘a way of being’ with the child while being authentic, present and genuine. I accept the child for who they truly are and see the child’s abilities they have to support them to grow, heal and thrive through the process.

I highly value parental or caregiver input and see you as an essential part of the Play Therapy process as well. We work closely together throughout the journey via parent review sessions.

Play Therapy is a successful approach that supports children with their emotional, social and behavioural needs while also helping them develop new skills, problem solve and a deeper sense of self. 

Play Therapy can assist children across a wide range of areas:

• Trauma

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Grief and loss

• Attachment

• Aggression

• Regulation

• Neurodiversity affirming 

• Domestic violence, abuse and neglect

• Medical trauma or chronic illness

• Family separation and connection

• Social difficulties

• Emotional difficulties

• Behavioural difficulties

The benefits of Play Therapy can be:

• Confidence

• Self-esteem

• Self-expression

• Healing

• Emotional regulation

• Empathy

• Social skills

• Problem solving skills

• Communication skills

• Positive relationships

The Process:

I feel it is important to make the unknown, known. I understand the importance of having all of the information before making a decision about your child.  A brief description of the process is:

• We will connect via email or telephone to ensure I am the right fit for your child. Once we have confirmed to move forward I will email you the intake form to complete. It is essential this form is completed as soon as you can as this determines placement on waitlist / offering of session.

• We will then schedule a time to meet in-person for an intake session. I will send you all the details via email prior to the session. In short, during this session we will delve deeper into the play therapy process, discuss historical and current information that will help me best support your child, and we will develop treatment goals together. This session is for the parent or caregiver to attend on their own without the child. Intake sessions are approx. 90 minutes.

• Once the intake meeting has taken place, your child will have their first session with me. Child sessions are either weekly or fortnightly on the same day and time. Child sessions are 45 minutes with an additional 15 minutes allocated for transitions, reset of the playroom and case notes.

• We will schedule in regular parent review sessions which involves: reviewing progress, discussion of play themes, parents provide home updates, psycho-education and review of treatment plan. Parent review sessions are 45 minutes with an additional 15 minutes allocated for pre and post admin associated with the session.

Reach out via email simone@nurturingplaytherapy.com.au to discuss further how we can work together.