Play & Creative Arts Therapy 
and Counselling Service
for children and young people
 

Play is children’s primary form of communication. Children tell us about their inner world through play long before they are able to link words to their experiences through language. Through play, children can experiment with, process and master different skills and experiences. They form a sense of who they are, whilst learning to understand that other people can be different from them. Relationship skills, such as being able to trust, respect, empathise, share and co-operate with people, can be developed through play. Play Therapy, therefore, is a form of counselling for children that builds on this developmentally appropriate form of communication through play. It enables children to explore difficult experiences in a safe environment.

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Play Therapy can be particularly helpful for children experiencing

• Anxiety or worries

• Bereavement or loss

• Domestic abuse

• Changes at home (such as separation or transition)

• Home education

• Facing friendship, identity, or social difficulties

• Dealing with trauma

• Experiencing attachment difficulties

• Struggling with self-esteem and confidence

• Children with Special Educational Needs (SEN), i.e., neurodiversity and disability

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