Child-Centered Play Therapy
Supporting Children to Process through Play
Child-Centered Play Therapy is a form of therapy that allows children (aged 2 - 12+ yrs) to process their feelings and experiences through play (their natural ‘language’). Children are welcomed to explore a range of carefully selected materials in the therapy room to play in a way that allows them to process what is going on for them or has happened to them (including traumatic experiences).
“Special play time”, safe environment
We refer to this session time as “special time” or “special play time” for children. There are limited rules to what children can do in session, and it is set up to be a safe space for them to process what they need to. The sessions run at the child’s pace and the therapist only joins in play when invited.
In addition, to keep this a safe space for children to explore and process through play without worry of judgement from others, this therapy typically takes place 1:1 with the child - with separate parent consultation sessions scheduled at regular intervals. Similarly discussions about the child do not take place at the start or end of sessions - rather this needs to take place via email or during the scheduled parent consultation sessions.
8 Principles of Child-Centred Play Therapy
The widely recognised 8 Principles of Child-Centred Play Therapy proposed by Virginia Axline (a psychologist and pioneer of play therapy) are that the therapist:
1) Develops a warm and friendly relationship with the child
2) Accepts the child as they are
3) Establishes a feeling of permission in the relationship so that the child feels free to express their feelings completely
4) Is alert to recognise the feelings the child is expressing and reflects these feelings back in such a manner that the child gains insight into their behaviour
5) Maintains a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve their problems and gives the child the opportunity to do so. The responsibility to make choices and to institute change is the child’s
6) Does not attempt to direct the child’s actions or conversations in any manner. The child leads the way, the therapist follows
7) Does not hurry the therapy along. It is a gradual process
8) Only establishes those limitations necessary to anchor the therapy to the world of reality and to make the child aware of their responsibility in the relationship
Our provisional psychologist Ruby Simms-Cumbers offers this type of therapy. Read more about Ruby here and contact us if you’d like to enquire about booking in with Ruby.