What is Play Therapy?
And how can it help support a child?
Play Therapy aims to help children to understand the muddled feelings and confusing life events that they are trying to make sense of. Rather than having to talk about what is troubling them children use play and creative arts to communicate at their own pace within a safe therapeutic environment with a trained therapist alongside.
Why choose Play Therapy?
Play Therapy has been proven to support children in many ways including a reduction in anxiety, raising their self esteem and improved relationships. Play Therapy helps to build resilience so children develop better coping strategies and more regulated behaviours with friends, family and wider communities.
How does it work?
Play and creativity is important in all aspects of a child’s development. At Jigsaw we believe that the relationship the child or young person develops with the therapist is key to success.
In the room we offer a therapeutic toolkit so the child or young person is able to choose how they use their time in the room. Each therapist is trained to be guided by the child so that the therapy moves at their pace. We call this a non-directive approach.
Once they feel ready and with the therapists support the child or young person is able to begin to express themselves and their feelings through play and creativity. This may involve the therapist engaging in a more directive way but often the child knows what is needed and is empowered to lead the way.
How can it help?
Play Therapy supports children in a variety of ways. Children who are referred for therapy receive emotional support and help to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. Sometimes they may reenact or play out traumatic life experiences to make sense of their past and cope better with their future. They may also learn how to manage present relationships and conflicts in more appropriate ways.
Next steps
If you feel that therapy would work for a child or young person you know the first step is for you to contact Jigsaw to start the process. Our aim is to make this as simple as possible. An initial contact (referral) can be made to Jigsaw and we will then put you in touch with the most suitable and available therapist who will then support you each step of the way.