PTUK describes that 'Play Therapy is a type of psychotherapy where play and art materials are used as the main way for people to express themselves.'

'Using play in therapy helps people to express themselves in their own way; especially if they are struggling to understand how they are feeling, or are finding it hard to put their experiences into words.

Play Therapy can be a particularly helpful approach for children in need of therapeutic support.

Using play means that the child can explore their thoughts and feelings in creative and dynamic ways, without having to use words to articulate themselves. In Play Therapy sessions, children explore their own creativity and express themselves using media such as: drawing and painting, water and clay, sand tray and miniatures, guided imagery and relaxation techniques, drama and puppetry, poetry, movement and music.

Talking about problems can be hard for children. A child may not have the words to describe how they are feeling, or why they are behaving as they do. A child may not be able to recognise what they find difficult, or explain it to someone if asked. Play Therapy provides the expertise and time to do this through play. Play Therapy sessions aim to build a child’s ability to develop healthy and resilient relationships, and to work though traumatic experiences which may be preoccupying them. Pre-occupying difficult feeling can make learning at school or managing feelings impossible. Addressing difficult emotions through play provides a layer of story or metaphor to what is being shared and felt. Metaphor can provide a degree of removal from experience for the child. It can feel safer and less intense for a child to express themselves or explore their experiences through play.'

Typically a session will be 40 minutes long or slightly less for younger children.

The premise is that children have autonomy over the session and begin to play at their own rate with the things they want to play with. 

They can leave at any time and call the session to a close.

Normally 12 sessions will be agreed at the start of the work, but this can be extended if this is felt beneficial to the child and there is no end to the amount that can take place.

Sometimes sessions are completed, and a gap happens before a further episode of therapeutic work takes place.

It can be for a child who is generally dysregulated, withdrawn or has challenging behaviours, but it can also be used for shorter more targeted interventions where needed.

Play therapy follows Virginia Axline's basic principles which can be found on my useful links page.

It allows the child to play in a non intrusive way, commenting on the play and using cues from the child to lean in to topics where it is possible.