Frequently Asked Questions

Often when you ask a child what they did in the playroom, their response will be ‘oh I just played’. Children perceive their time in the playroom as just playing, while they are in fact, expressing thoughts, emotions and memories in a symbolic way that their subconscious mind may have disguised or hidden.

Play is a child's natural form of communication.

Play therapists are specifically trained to support a child’s ability to express and ‘play out’ their emotions, fears, memories and insecurities. Play therapists are trained in understanding the symbolic ability that every toy and resource has in their playroom and the manner in which a child engages with these toys.

"Toys are selected, not collected".

When people hear the words "play therapy" they can perceive this as children learning how to play.

The fact is, play therapy is not the same as playing. Play therapy uses the child’s natural tendency to “play out” their responses to life situations.

How a child plays is individual. The child leads the play while the therapist reflects and tracks how they are engaging with the toys and any emotions that they portray in these experiences.

In saying this, we have had parents comment that their child now engages in more functional play since commencing play therapy!

Play therapy is developmentally appropriate for children, where children are supported in both a verbal and/or symbolic way when expressing their emotions.

Children communicate and  interact through play. They do not need words to express themselves.

In the words of Garry Landreth (founder of Center For Play Therapy, the largest play therapy training program in the world) ...

“Toys are children’s words and play is their language."

Psychology is talk-based specific therapy which requires cognitive thinking/logic from higher parts of the brain that are still developing in early adulthood. While psychology can offer significant benefits, particularly for older children, play therapy represents a distinct modality.

Play therapists receive specialised training to assist children in navigating various social and emotional challenges, which can be similar to the reasons for seeking support from a psychologist. In terms of methodology, within the play therapy setting, the child takes the lead in determining how they navigate their emotions using the play resources. Unlike traditional therapy where they might be asked, in the play therapy room, the child autonomously decides what and when to share, expressing themselves in a manner that feels natural to them—through play!

Children will always exhibit typical behaviors of being kids, such as tantrums, yelling, and stomping feet. Play therapy has the objective of reducing (but not eradicating) these challenging behaviors, offering children a secure environment to develop and recover using the healing aspects of play. Through play, children can acquire coping mechanisms for self-regulation. 

Regrettably, play therapists are not capable of completely eliminating these behaviours and transforming a child into an angel, although we empathise with the desire for such a transformation!

Similar to any therapeutic approach, play therapy sessions are confidential, maintaining privacy between the therapist and the child. These sessions are dedicated to establishing trust between the therapist and the child. However, in cases where there is a potential risk to the child's safety or others, appropriate measures will be taken.

Scheduled feedback sessions with parents or caregivers occur every 4 to 6 weeks, providing an opportunity to discuss the child's advancements and address any inquiries you might have.

Like many therapies, the path of this process is unique to each individual and cannot be precisely foreseen. On average, a child may need approximately 20 sessions before reaching a point where therapy is no longer necessary. Some children might need fewer sessions, while others may require more. The frequency of appointments can influence this as well. Weekly sessions for your child are strongly advised, although fortnightly sessions can be considered after consulting with the therapist. 

If you are unable to commit to regular sessions for your child, play therapy may not be the most suitable option.

Play therapy can be ideal for many children and for many different reasons and needs! No matter how big or small it seems, play therapy supports a child’s ability to begin to understand and make sense of their world and their feelings in a developmentally appropriate way.

One thing we ALWAYS say in the initial intake appointment is that there are no guarantees whether play therapy will be effective for your child. Like most therapies, this may not be a good fit for you and your child however you will never know unless you try!

No referrals are required, you can self-refer your own child if you think they could benefit from play therapy.

If you are unsure if play therapy could help, or have any other queries, then please don't hesitate to contact us.

Play therapists need to hold a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in human services related fields including social work, psychology, counselling, occupational therapy, art therapy, music therapy, early childhood education or similar in order to study post graduate play therapy studies here in Australia.