Play Therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of therapy for children aged 3-12. Since children’s pre-frontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for complex thought processes and language, is not fully developed until late teen and adult life, we need to find a way to communicate with children that does not depend entirely on words and conversations. Play Therapy was developed to allow children to express themselves non-verbally within a therapeutic context. When children have a safe space in which to communicate their reality in a creative and symbolic way, they have an amazing capacity to grow and flourish. I often see children who seem to be exhibiting difficult behaviour and anxiety, who have been abused, or who are adjusting to a divorce, separation, or death in the family. Play therapy helps the child develop a stronger sense of self, of autonomy, of self-expression, maturity and independence.
I completed a Graduate Certificate in Play Therapy at Concordia University, Montréal, where we studied Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) and Child-Parent Relationship Therapy (CPRT). Other major influences in my career have been Expressive Play Therapy and AutPlay Therapy. I have studied an attachment-based, developmental approach to understanding children at the Neufeld Institute, and I do ongoing training in ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Sandplay Therapy.
With younger children, my approach is mainly Play Therapy. With older children and tweens, the sessions naturally tend towards a combination of Play Therapy and Expressive Arts Therapy. As children mature into adolescents, there is an evolution towards discussions interwoven with Expressive Arts Therapy.
My Play Therapy studio includes both an indoor and outdoor play space. The playhouse is one of the features of my outdoor play therapy setting - a space where imaginary play, creativity and exploration enhance the healthy development of the child’s brain. Nature serves as co-therapist, and a secure, outdoors space encourages movement and embodiment, aiding in nervous system regulation.
Dr. Dee Ray, author of Advanced Play Therapy - one of the required books we used in Concordia - made this delightful and accessible video to help very young children get an idea of what it will be like to go to Play Therapy for the first time.