Play Therapy is a therapeutic approach used with children and young people to help them express themselves, try out new behaviour within a safe environment and to gain a sense of understanding and acceptance of their feelings and past experiences.



A play therapist aims to form a therapeutic relationship with the child which will then enable him/her to gain a sense of trust and safety in exploring their world and their inner selves.  

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'Since the child's world is a world of action and activity, play therapy provides the therapist with an opportunity to enter the child's world (Landreth, 1991).' 



Using play materials such as art, sand, role play, music and clay children within play therapy can explore and play out any experiences or difficulties they are experiencing.  The play therapist supports the child to do this, makes them aware of these interests and challenges and is patient in allowing the child/ young person to revisit through play these themes.  By doing so a child will be given the opportunity to explore such challenges at their own pace and in a way that feels non-threatening and most importantly within their own control.