To a child, the loss of someone they love can be a devastating event.  A child’s sense of security can be shattered and their whole world becomes a scary and unsafe place. The death or terminal illness of a friend or family member can affect their behaviour, emotional development and/or relationships with family, friends and/or education.

 

Play Therapy uses the natural medium of play to help children explore their feelings, to express themselves and to make sense of their life experiences.  Sudden, unanticipated and dramatic deaths such as suicide, murder, illness or accidental death can have serious consequences physically and mentally.

 

Children often struggle to express themselves in words and unlike conventional talking therapies Play Therapy uses play and creative activities as a primary medium for communication. Our extensively trained Play Therapist provides the child with a safe, secure and accepting environment in which to explore painful events in their lives through the natural medium of play.

 

Each child (aged 3-12 years) will receive an average of 12 free weekly sessions where they will receive emotional support and learn to understand more about their own feeling and thoughts.  Sometimes they may re-enact traumatic or difficult experiences in order to make sense of what is happening and cope with their grief.

 

There are many benefits of Play Therapy including a reduction in anxiety, raised self-esteem, increased resilience and/or more specific such as a change in behaviour and improved relationships with family and friends. Children from different cultures, genders and with varying abilities can all be helped. We can also work with parents in the playroom with their child to train parents how to better support and communicate with their child using child-centred techniques.