North West Play Therapy and Psychotherapy
Providing play therapy and psychotherapy to children and adolescents across the north west of Ireland
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy helps children understand confusing feelings and upsetting events.
Sometimes children find it challenging to verbalise what is troubling them. In Play Therapy, children use play to communicate their thoughts and feelings at a level and pace that is developmentally appropriate for them.
The therapeutic relationship that develops between therapist and child provides a safe space for the child to explore difficult and painful emotions. Play therapy helps children work through emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
Play Therapy focuses on the medium of play instead of talk, to help the child explore and make sense of the world in which they live. This process allows children to resolve difficulties and achieve social and emotional growth.
In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language (Landreth, 2002).
A psychotherapist works with clients across a range of needs including those with complex histories and/or significant clinical issues. These can include attachment disorders, trauma, and other significant emotional and behavioural issues.
Psychotherapists help children and young people to understand the connection between their emotions and their behaviour by providing opportunities to resolve painful issues and experiences and develop affective coping strategies.
Please use this form to enquire about an appointment for your child, or to contact NWPTP.