Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is to children what counselling is to adults. Instead of using words, play therapy lets children express their feelings and work through challenges using toys.

Sometimes, it's tricky to see how play helps with children' problems. But play is how children:

• Explore and understand their world

• Share their feelings

• Grow their minds

• Learn to be good friends and good family members.

Play has a special magic that helps children grow and change for the better.

In Play Therapy, children get to play freely in a safe space where they don't have to change. They use toys and games to learn, heal, and have fun.

Play Therapy is the best way to help children who are facing challenging times. Even if they can't always express themselves with words, play helps them show how they feel and what they need.

All children face tough times in life, like when parents/carer separate, moving to a new home, starting at a new school, or finding it hard to make friends. Some children need more support than others during these times. If you or other adults in your child’s life are concerned about their behaviour or how they're feeling, Play Therapy can be really helpful.

It gives children a special place to play and talk about their feelings, helping them feel better and stronger.

In a play therapy session, children get to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe, supportive environment through play. Imagine a room filled with toys, art supplies, and games, where the child can express themselves freely. The therapist observes and gently interacts with the child, using play as a way to help them process their emotions and experiences.

It's not just about having fun—though that's a big part of it! Through these playful interactions, the therapist helps the child understand and cope with difficult feelings, build confidence, and develop better ways to handle challenges. It's a creative and engaging way for children to heal and grow.

A Play Therapist will begin the process by conducting an intake interview where they will carefully listen to you and your family's’ concerns about your child. During this interview, the therapist will ask you questions about your child's developmental history and any life stresses that your family may have experienced. With your permission, the therapist may talk to your child’s school or other significant adults to obtain information.

The therapist will then meet with your child separately to explain what humanistic play therapy is, and will answer your child’s questions.

After these steps, the therapist will complete an assessment of your child’s strengths and difficulties.

After the completion of the intake and assessment, the therapy begins. Initially, your child will be getting used to the therapist, playroom and the process. After this phase, your child will display the signs of eagerness to come to the playroom and interact with the therapist. As the therapist begins to work with your child, they may display emotions such as anger, fear and may display behaviours which might not necessarily be comfortable. Once this all this has passed, your child will start to gain an understanding of they difficulties and how to respond to these difficulties. When your child’s emotional status and behavioural functioning is stabilised, the play therapy will be terminated.

All of these phases may take somewhere between several sessions to several months. This varies from child to child based on your child’s personality, life experiences and how your child perceives their lives experiences.

• Trauma

• Divorce and family breakdown

• Social difficulties

• Separation anxiety

• Anger, oppositional behaviour, and acting out

• Bullying

• Physical and sexual abuse

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Language difficulties

• Toileting difficulties

• Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

• Challenges in parent-child relationships

• Sleeping and eating difficulties

• Low self-esteem and self-confidence

• Grief and loss

• Depression

• Chronic illness, hospitalization, or surgery

• Physical symptoms without medical cause

• Bonding and attachment issues

• Selective mutism

Each session is about 45 to 60 minutes, but it might change depending on what your child needs. Your child's therapist will talk with you about how many sessions your child might have. Usually, they'll keep playing together for a few weeks or months to help your child feel better and stronger.

Yes, parents may join in some of the sessions, especially at the start, during check-ins, and as the therapy wraps up. It's a team effort to help your child grow and feel better!

We keep an eye on progress by having regular check-in sessions. We'll talk with your child and you to see how things are going. And you might notice changes in how your child acts or feels, which is a good sign that Play Therapy is helping them grow stronger.

In Child-Centred Play Therapy, we don't work with children's chronological age but with their emotional age. This approach is most effective for children emotionally aged between 3-12. So, for example, if your child is 16 but emotionally aged as 12, they will still benefit.

Look for a mental health professional with specialised training and experience in Play Therapy. Certification from organisations like the Australasia Pacific Play Therapy Association (APPTA) can also be a good indicator of expertise.