Play Therapy works for your child as counselling or psychotherapy works for adults by using children’s natural means of communication: play. The powers of play can help your child to work through emotional, psychosocial and behavioural difficulties and help address family problems.
The play therapist fosters a safe and accepting environment where your child can heal and grow. When children attend play therapy they enters into a dynamic relationship with the therapist that enables children to express themselves, explore and make sense of the world they live in and resolve any difficult or painful experiences through the medium of play.
I work in a systemic and child-centred way, within the context of your child’s family, home, school and any other environment or system of which it is part. Parents and teachers are supported and encouraged to be active in this process so the skills learnt by the child can be carried over into both home and school situations.
Currently undertaking training at the German Theraplay Institute, I offer Theraplay based practice. Theraplay activities are designed to enhance the child-parent relationship and focus on essential qualities in the child-parent relationship.
Any child can benefit from play therapy. It promotes self-confidence, imagination, creativity, concentration, communication, problem-solving skills, self-esteem, and happiness in the child.
Play therapy is suitable for children as young as two to three years of age and there is no upper age limit.
How it works
The play therapy process starts with an initial intake meeting between the play therapist and parents/carers of the child. The intake meeting gathers information of the child’s history, development, and family circumstances. Reasons for referral and other concerns are explored and the play therapy process is explained. The initial meeting allows parents/carers to become familiar with the play therapist and the play therapy space. Based on the information gathered, the play therapist and the parents/carers agree on an initial treatment plan. An informed written consent needs to be given by both parents or other guardians before the sessions can go ahead. Parental review meetings are held on a regular base to discuss progress with parents/carers.
Sometimes the play therapist will suggest an attachment based intervention using Theraplay activities, in which caregivers participate and have joined sessions with their child.
Prior to developing a Theraplay activity based treatment plan the therapist will undertake a H-MIM assessment, to assess the overall quality of the parent-child interaction (using the Heidelberg Marschak Interaction Method, H-MIM).
To arrange an initial appointment for your child, please contact
Pia Lück on 087 7752361
