The Importance of Play Therapy (age 4 – 16)

The Importance of Play Therapy

Play is vitally important to enable children to achieve developmental milestones, acquire an emotional vocabulary, develop secure attachments, and negotiate the normal ups and downs of everyday living. “Play is vital to every child’s social, emotional, cognitive, physical, creative and language development” (BAPT 2005). It is through play that children best express themselves, therefore children with poor play skills will be hampered in their relationships and ability to make sense of their world and their experiences. 

All children, and most especially those with identified extra needs, will benefit from a systematic approach that ensures that they are provided with extensive opportunities, and assistance, to develop play skills and to engage in playful activities.  Play is not a luxury or a pastime for children – it is the very means through which they develop and grow to reach their potential, and realise their capacity to engage in meaningful relationships with others. 

Developmental & Therapeutic Play

Developmental and therapeutic play includes the use of play-based activities to assist children, including those with special needs, in the development of skills, personal resources, positive self-esteem, and holistic development.

Developmental and therapeutic play sessions can be also be provided by Play Therapists whose additional expertise is important if the child has emotional difficulties.

Counselling and Psychotherapy services in Antrim - NI Counselling
Counselling and Psychotherapy services in Antrim - NI Counselling

Play Therapy

Children may experience problems with feelings or behaviours that cause disruption to their lives, and the lives of those around them. Play therapy provides a child with an opportunity to ‘play out’ their thoughts, feelings and problems just as, in certain types of adult therapy, an individual ‘talks out’ their difficulties.  It can be described as being a developmentally sensitive therapeutic modality, in which a trained Play Therapist uses the therapeutic powers of play to help children prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development.

Play permits the child to communicate with adults nonverbally, symbolically, and in an action-oriented manner. Play Therapists use approaches, interventions, media, and activities that are appropriate to the age and developmental stage of the client.

Any child can benefit from Play Therapy. It promotes self-confidence, imagination, creativity, concentration, communication, problem-solving skills, self-esteem and most importantly happiness in the child. Play Therapy is suitable for children as young as two years old and there is no upper age limit.

Play therapy is relationship based – the power of the therapy comes from the strength of the relationship between the Play Therapist and the child.

SandStory Therapy

SandStory® Therapy is a creative approach offering therapeutic support via sand and symbols within the safety of a non-judgemental relationship.

It provides children and young people with a safe space and opportunity to ‘tell their story’ in the sand. It is a creative approach for children/young people who may find talking about their experiences difficult. The child/young person takes the lead and the Therapist gently guides the experience to enable the child to develop a greater sense of self-awareness through reflection.

In SandStory ® Therapy, the child selects from a range of symbols and creates their story in the sandtray. The Therapist supports the child/young person to express and explore their story. A qualified Therapist will support your child to explore unconscious thoughts and feelings and to reflect upon themselves and their situation. It is beneficial for a range of referral issues.

Children must be approached and understood from a developmental perspective. They must not be viewed as miniature adults. Their world is one of concrete realities and their experiences are often communicated through play. Unlike adults whose natural medium of communication is verbalization, the natural medium of communication for children is play activity. (Landreth, 1991)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me

Anger Management Therapy Services - NI Counselling

Anger Management

Anorexia nervosa therapy services - NI Counselling

Anorexia nervosa

Anxiety Therapy Services - NI Counselling

Anxiety

Asperger's syndrome therapy services - NI Counselling

Asperger’s syndrome

Attachment disorder therapy services - NI Counselling

Attachment disorder

Bereavement therapy services - NI Counselling

Bereavement

Binge-eating disorder therapy services - NI Counselling

Binge-eating disorder

Bipolar disorder/Manic depression therapy services - NI Counselling

Bipolar disorder/Manic depression

Body dysmorphic disorder therapy services - NI Counselling

Body dysmorphic disorder

Bulimia nervosa therapy services - NI Counselling

Bulimia nervosa

Bullying therapy services - NI Counselling

Bullying

Cancer support therapy services - NI Counselling

Cancer support

Carer support therapy services - NI Counselling

Carer support

Child related issues therapy services - NI Counselling

Child related issues

Chronic fatigue syndrome / ME therapy services - NI Counselling

Chronic fatigue syndrome /ME

Depression therapy services - NI Counselling

Depression

Dementia therapy services - NI Counselling

Dementia

Disabilities therapy services - NI Counselling

Disabilities

Dissociation therapy services - NI Counselling

Dissociation

Domestic violence therapy services - Antrim counselling

Domestic violence

Eating disorders therapy services - NI Counselling

Eating disorders

Emotional abuse therapy services - NI Counselling

Emotional abuse

Family issues therapy services - NI Counselling

Family issues

Fetishes therapy services - NI Counselling

Fetishes

Gender dysphoria therapy services - NI Counselling

Gender dysphoria

Generalised anxiety disorder therapy services - NI Counselling

Generalised anxiety disorder

HIV/AIDS therapy services - NI Counselling

HIV/AIDS

Hoarding therapy services - NI Counselling

Hoarding

Infertility therapy services - NI Counselling

Infertility

Low self-confidence therapy services - NI Counselling

Low self-confidence

Low self-esteem therapy services - NI Counselling

Low self-esteem

Miscarriage therapy services - NI Counselling

Miscarriage

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

Panic Attacks therapy services - NI Counselling

Panic Attacks

Passive aggressive behaviour therapy services - NI Counselling

Passive aggressive behaviour

Personality disorders therapy services - NI Counselling

Personality disorders

Phobias therapy services - NI Counselling

Phobias

Physical abuse therapy services - NI Counselling

Physical abuse

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) therapy services - NI Counselling

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Postnatal depression therapy services - NI Counselling

Postnatal depression

Pregnancy and birth therapy services - NI Counselling

Pregnancy and birth

Redundancy therapy services - NI Counselling

Redundancy

Relationship issues therapy services - NI Counselling

Relationship issues

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) therapy services - NI Counselling

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

Self-harm therapy services - NI Counselling

Self-harm

Separation and divorce therapy services - NI Counselling

Separation and divorce

Sexual abuse therapy services - NI Counselling

Sexual abuse

Sexual Addiction

Sexual Addiction

Sexuality therapy services - NI Counselling

Sexuality

Stress therapy services - NI Counselling

Stress

Suicidal thoughts therapy services - NI Counselling

Suicidal thoughts

Trauma therapy services - NI Counselling

Trauma

You May be Interested in Art Therapy

Counselling in Antrim - NI Counselling Logo

NI Counselling offers therapeutic treatment for adults, adolescents and children with a vast range of emotional and behavioural issues and concerns.

Telephone

Office locations

Belfast, Newtownabbey, Magherafelt & Antrim

By appointment only

Each of our therapist are accredited and have different specialist fields and backgrounds, we can help you find the right fit for you!

We have appointments available online and by telephone, we also have face-to-face appointments available at our various office locations across Northern Ireland.

NI Counselling & Associates Ltd is a registered company – Limited Company Registration NI694550​

× How can I help you?