How many sessions of Play Therapy will my child need?

I try to give you an idea after the initial assessment, of how long I anticipate the work might be.  This is reviewed regularly (monthly) and can change, depending upon what happens or emerges during the therapeutic sessions.  For example, a child may come into Play Therapy suffering from anxiety and after a few sessions feel a lot more confident and be ready to finish.   Or, a child could come into Play Therapy with anxiety and then more complicated issues emerge.  

It is vital that however long a child is in Play Therapy that the ending is planned carefully and thoughtfully.  Stopping Play Therapy can bring up past losses for a child, and the transition needs to be sensitively managed with preparation and care.

How will I know if Play Therapy is working? 

Signs of success include:

• A happier child;

• A more confident child;

• A greater willingness for a child to have a go at things;

•  A child developing a closer rapport with friends and family;

• Better communication between child and family/child and other significant others.

Seeing a happier child, witnessing the relief of his/her family, knowing that s/he has a greater resilience and capacity to enjoy life and a greater number of tools in his/her life kit, is immensely rewarding! 

Sometimes it can appear that the Play Therapy is making the situation worse and not better.  This is usually just a phase during the Play Therapy intervention.  This could be, for example, that a previously withdrawn, shy child starts to ‘act out’ at school or home.  The phase usually passes as the child gets back in touch with his/her feelings and ‘works through’ their upset in Play Therapy.  This phase can be a challenging time, however, for families and I work closely with families to help support everybody around the child, as well as the child.

What if I am not sure if Play Therapy will help?

If you are not sure if Play Therapy is right for your child right now, call or email me and we can discuss it.  I offer an obligation-free, initial consultation by phone or in person of approximately 30 minutes.   Sometimes, children are not in the right state of mind to undertake the hard work of Play Therapy and if this is the case, I can help signpost you and your child to where the best help might be found.   Or, it might be that a child needs to feel more secure before a therapeutic intervention can commence.

How can I pay for Play Therapy? 

Payment options can be discussed with your Play Therapist.  Your school SENCo or Principal can advise if Student Pupil Premiums can be accessed to help with this charge.  

The BAPT website has more details about standard rates for qualified Play Therapists (https://www.bapt.info/play-therapy/ethical-basis-good-practice-play-therapy/).