Play Therapy should never be withheld as a punishment.
It is helpful if you can support the idea of Play Therapy because a child will be more responsive if significant adults in their life are consistent.
It is helpful if you can resist the urge to ask how things have gone during a session so that a child does not feel under pressure to comment on something they may have difficulty in understanding themselves.
Please do not check if a child has been good or bad in a session, as a child must feel free to express bad feelings in an uncensored way.
If a child chooses to share something about a session, please show interest and listen to what they tell you. However, it is important that any comments you make are not judgmental.
Please do not insist that a child tells me certain things or check if certain things have been revealed. It is a child’s time in session and they alone must decide at what pace to reveal or discuss things.
Sometimes we do get messy and I hope you will understand that being anxious about making a mess can be inhibiting. So please allow old clothes to be worn.
Every effort will be made to ensure the sessions are at such a time as they are followed by either a play or lunchtime break or the end of the school day. If this is not feasible then please give the child space before expecting a resumption of academic study.
Above all please remember that Play Therapy is a confidential process, so please avoid probing into what a child has been playing. Feedback will be given, especially if anything raises a concern.
It is important to warn you that, as with most therapeutic interventions, it is normal for behaviour to appear to get worse before it gets better.
Emotional upheaval can be evident as sometimes emotional and difficult feelings are explored, especially in the beginning. Please share anything if problems arise that you are uncertain how to handle.
If anything significant happens between appointments that you think you need to share then contact the Play Therapist.
Flourish & Play 