What brings you to Play Therapy?

Are you a parent / Carer concerned about your child? Do you feel your child needs additional support? Has your child had a difficult life experience or issues relating to a condition they have?

If you relate to any of these then please feel free to contact Sharon to request a free consultation call or read more at How Play Therapy can Help.

If you are working in child services, a charity organisation or a local authority and have a child who you feel would benefit from Play Therapy then please contact Sharon or see Play Therapy in Children’s Organisations

Are you from an educational setting and feel Play Therapy would benefit some children through your provision. Then please contact Sharon for a free consultation or see Play Therapy Educational Settings.

Playing to make a Difference.

My name is Sharon and I am a BAPT Play Therapist who believes in the power of play and helping children to promote positive mental health that can be carried into their adulthood. Good mental health, resilience, creativity and problem-solving skills have been linked to free fun play in both children and adults alike. Purposeful child-led play can build on positive playful experiences that enable good physical, mental and cognitive development from birth onward. Childhood experiences that may have a negative effect on healthy development can be addressed through play, as children are able to explore and express feelings they may be unable to understand or verbalise.

Play is a child’s natural means of communication, an instinctive act that enables them to learn and evolve.
Play is a vital component of development and growth in humans, a valuable part of childhood through which our early experiences shape our future selves.
Play is essential for a child’s personal, social and emotional development, allowing them first-hand experiences that explore themselves, others and the world in which they live.

Play allows children to express their thoughts, experiences and feelings in a natural, self-directed and non-verbal way. Thus empowering them in their understanding and self-actualising tendencies, which in turn can promote self-awareness & healing.

In Play Therapy, Play is a means to help children learn, understand, explore and express their needs, experiences, emotions and ideas at their own pace and in their own way. Children are more resilient than we can often give them credit for, but also they can require help when adverse childhood experiences result in negative thoughts, ideas, behaviours and trauma of varying degrees. Life events, illness, loss and abuse all come in many different forms and some require early interventions. Assistance may be required for children who have behavioural issues or mental health concerns/diagnosis, that require additional support. Whatever the nature of the concerns or issues, play can be a strong bridge from which to build a consistent & equal therapeutic relationship, where play is the vehicle for communication rather than words.

Creating a child led intervention that can enhance their emotional understanding, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-awareness and social awareness is the basis for enabling them to express themselves through their play. Behaviour may often seem like the main issue, but we should always take a look at what may be behind the behaviour before we make judgements on that alone. In Child Centred Play Therapy the child leads the way and so is empowered to use the sessions to work on what may be consciously or unconsciously playing on their mind and presenting in different ways to those closest to them. The consistent environment of the playroom and the therapeutic relationship allow the child to move towards and explore therapeutic change.

Would you like a Consultation Call?

Referral to Play Therapy for a child can be for a variety of reasons, including:

Bereavement & Loss
Parent separation or Divorce
Anxiety problems
Presenting with Behavioural Issues
Difficulties with Anger & Aggression
Disability / Medical Conditions
Physical, Developmental and Behavioural / Emotional needs
Abuse (Sexual, Physical or Emotional) or Neglect
Foster or Adoption Children
Emotional Regulation Difficulties
Autism (ASD)
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Selective Mutism
Issues with Self-Esteem & Self-Worth
Chronic Illness
Illness of close family members
Child Carer needing support
Witnessing Domestic Violence
Self-Harm
Eating Problems
Toileting Issues

” Flourish and Play have the vision to assist children in need and to advocate play in all areas of life. Thus aiming to enhance the positive mental health of children and adults alike. ” Flourish & Play

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