PLAY &
Creative Arts
THERAPY
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a type of therapy where play and art materials are used as the main way for people to express themselves.
Using play in therapy helps people to express themselves in their own way; especially if they are struggling to understand how they are feeling, or are finding it hard to put their experiences into words.
Play Therapy can be a particularly helpful approach for children in need of therapeutic support. Talking about problems can be hard for children. A child may not have the words to describe how they are feeling, or why they are behaving as they do. A child may not be able to recognise what they find difficult, or explain it to someone if asked. Play Therapy provides the expertise and time to do this through play. Play Therapy sessions aim to build a child’s ability to develop healthy and resilient relationships, and to work through traumatic experiences that may be preoccupying them.
Pre-occupying difficult feelings can make learning at school or managing feelings impossible. Addressing difficult emotions through play provides a layer of story or metaphor to what is being shared and felt. Metaphor can provide a degree of removal from experience for the child. It can feel safer and less intense for a child to express themselves or explore their experiences through play. Play Therapy (PTUK)
Who IS IT FOR?
Children Affected By:
Abuse (Emotional, Physical, Sexual)
ADHD
Anger
Attachment Issues
Autistic Spectrum
Behaviour Problems
Bereavement /Loss
Bullied/Bullies
Communication Problems
Delayed Development
Family Relationship Problems
Lack of Confidence
Nightmares
Poor School Attendance
Separated/Divorced Parents
Social Exclusion
Trauma
Unauthorised Absences
Under Performing (Academically, Socially, Culturally)
Withdrawn Personality
This list is including but not limited to.
Play Therapy Sessions
Each Session will take place in a safe and comfortable room and will last for up to 40 minutes. The child will have access to creative activities such as clay, sand, paint, Lego, stories, music, movement and puppets. It is up to them what they choose.
A minimum of 12 sessions will be offered at first, although the average number of sessions provided are around 18. A review will be planned after eight sessions with parents/carers or schools to decide if more sessions are needed.
About Safe Haven
My name is Pam Tomlinson and I am a qualified, registered Play Therapist with PTUK, accredited by the Professional Standards Authority and I adhere to the PTUK ethical framework. I have had almost twenty years experience working with children. Many years ago, I spent some time working in a homeless project for teenagers. It opened my eyes to the terrible results of family breakdown and young adults living in difficult circumstances. I found many of these teenagers misunderstood and desperate for help, with parents often unable to cope. Sometime later, I became a teaching assistant in a primary school and observed first-hand the struggles some children were having with behaving, learning and concentrating in class. It became obvious that teachers have enough to do without giving the much-needed attention to these particular children. This experience left me thinking about the homeless project and wondering if early intervention with primary school aged children could prevent the tragic outcomes I witnessed with troubled teenagers.
I currently work as a sole trader and offer 1:1 sessions and group work for families and schools in the South Bucks region.
Safeguarding
Data Protection
Risk Assessment
Confidentiality
Lone Working
Liability Ins
DBS Checked
ICO Reg
GDPR Aware
(All available to view on request)
POLICIES
Contact Me
Whether you are a parent, carer, relative or teacher, you can send me an email. I will get in touch with you to answer your questions and tell you about the next step.
pam.safehaventherapy@gmail.com
For more information about PTUK:
www.playtherapy.org.uk