What is Play Therapy

Children often face challenges during times of change or difficulty, and unlike adults, they may not have the words to express their feelings. This can lead to concerning behaviours such as withdrawal, sadness, or acting out. Parents may notice changes in their child's sleeping, eating, or toileting habits, or struggle with how their child interacts with friends and family. Leaving them worried about their child's development.

 

Play Therapy is a specialised evidenced based therapeutic approach that helps children navigate these difficulties. Through play, children can express their needs, fears, and wishes in a way that feels natural to them. It allows them to work through emotional and behavioural challenges without the pressure of putting their feelings into words.

 

At Nurturing Hearts Play Therapy, we believe that true healing happens within the therapeutic relationship between the child and the therapist. In this safe, consistent, and predictable environment, children are free to explore their emotions and express their struggles at their own pace.

 

In Play Therapy, toys are the child's words, and play is their language. Through therapeutic tools such as clay, sand, art, puppets, music, movement, and creative visualization, children can "play out" their difficulties in a way that feels safe and empowering. This process helps them understand their past experiences, allowing them to move forward with greater emotional awareness and better coping skills.

 

At Nurturing Hearts, our goal is to support children as they become aware of their feelings and empower them to make positive choices for themselves, fostering emotional growth and resilience for the future.