What is Play Therapy?

Young children do not often know how to tell us about their problems with words like adults do. Children show us what is happening in their lives with their behaviour and communicate easiest through their natural language: play. Just as counselling or "talk therapy" can help adults resolve their challenges, children can benefit from "playing out" the struggles in their lives.


Working with children individually, I primarily use play therapy and other expressive art techniques. This happens in a specially equipped playroom filled with toys chosen for their potential to assist children in expressing themselves. Children aged 4 to 10 years respond best to expressive play therapy, although using toys, the sand tray, and art techniques can be helpful at virtually any age. My approach is to provide a safe, predictable environment in the playroom where children can express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child's words and play is the child's language (Landreth, 2002).

Children who have suffered a loss (through death, parental separation, or significant move), are experiencing sadness or withdrawal, seem to be overcome with worries, are having trouble making friends or being bullied/bullying others, have frequent emotional outbursts or tantrums, or have faced a significant trauma (physical, sexual, emotional abuse or neglect) may benefit from play therapy. If you are concerned about your child and feel they may need to see a counsellor, please do not hesitate to contact me for further information.

The Association for Play Therapy website has an article titled Play Therapy Makes a Difference which provides a further description of the philosophy, process, and benefits of play therapy for children.