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Play therapy uses play as a way of helping people understand and express their thoughts and feelings.

It鈥檚 mainly used with children who may not be able to put how they are feeling into words. Play therapy helps them to communicate at their own level using everyday play things. This can help them learn to cope with what they鈥檙e going through, to develop and to build relationships with others.

Susannah Bradley, a play therapist, says:听鈥淧lay therapy is a fantastic way of giving someone a way of exploring their feelings and emotions if they don鈥檛 have the vocabulary to understand or explain these feelings. It can give them the tools they need to develop relationships in the future and to believe in themselves.鈥�

How does play therapy work?

Children naturally learn and develop through play. Play therapy builds on this with the support and expertise of a trained therapist.

鈥淲e work with children to help them access important thoughts and feelings they don鈥檛 realise they have,鈥� says Susannah.

There are many different ways of using play in therapy 鈥� for example musical instruments, books, sand trays, arts and crafts, messy play. It can also include role play, where children might dress up or play out difficult experiences with small figures, soft toys or puppets.

They can explore their emotions and 鈥榩ractise鈥� how they respond and behave in the safety of a therapy room and with the support of a听 therapist. Then they can use the skills they鈥檝e learnt outside the therapy room.

Susannah adds: 鈥淐hildren need to know that the play therapy session is 鈥榯heir time鈥�. It allows them to have an interest in themselves and to know that they're worthy of someone鈥檚 time and attention.鈥�

What does a play therapist do?

A play therapist will introduce a child to a large selection of play materials and let them choose what they want to play with.

鈥淚t鈥檚 mainly child led," says Susannah. "As play therapists, we don鈥檛 interpret, we don鈥檛 react, we don鈥檛 judge."

For example, a child might play with puppets during the session, and the therapist might join in too. Their imaginary play may represent real social situations which can help the child to explore their own behaviour and responses.

The relationship with the therapist is very important to ensure the child knows they鈥檙e supported, understood, safe and able to explore their feelings.

鈥淚t may take five or six sessions, but building up a good, trusting relationship with the child is absolutely key," she says. "Some children have never had that before.鈥澨�

What can play therapy help with?

Play therapy can help with a variety of issues and circumstances, including trauma, bereavement, anxiety and depression. It may be of help for children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or whose behaviour and anger are becoming problematic.

It can also have benefits for children who are dealing with their parents鈥� separation or divorce, who鈥檝e experienced domestic violence or abuse, or who are in hospital or care.

Can play therapy help adults?

Play therapy can also be helpful for adults who struggle to communicate how they feel.听

It provides a comfortable and safe environment for people to explore the issues they're facing, using the creativity that鈥檚 inherent in everyone. Says Susannah: 鈥淛ust like with children, it鈥檚 about accessing the unconscious, breaking down barriers and unlocking something that helps people explore and express their emotions.鈥�

Play therapy often uses metaphors. The toys or creative aids become symbols that represent feelings, experiences, situations and people. It鈥檚 tailored to the individual needs of the client and will be different for everyone.

How can you find a play therapist?

Play therapists should be registered with Play Therapy UK or the British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT), both professional organisation's that have a Professional Standards Authority (PSA) accredited register, like 香港六合彩精准资料. This means they have to meet professional and ethical standards and have undergone a minimum level of training.

You can find qualified and registered play therapists on the 香港六合彩精准资料 Directory.

If you have any comments or would like to share your story, please get in touch with us.听