Child Centred Play Therapy Sessions
(Child Only)
WHAT IS PLAY THERAPY?
Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is an evidence-based therapeutic approach designed to support children aged 2–12 years.
Just as adults use words to express thoughts and emotions in talk-based therapy, children use play—their natural language—to communicate and process their experiences.
My role is to step into the child’s world, understanding their perspective and experiences without judgement. This empathetic stance helps build trust and facilitates healing and growth.
How CCPT Helps…
Through play and connection, I use proven techniques to:
- Support the child’s emotional expression and self-understanding
- Validate their experiences and strengthen their self-esteem
- Help them process difficult emotions and life events
- Guide them toward healthier behaviours and coping strategies
Why It Works…
CCPT is developmentally responsive, meaning it meets children right where they are.
It honours their feelings, respects their pace, and empowers them to grow in ways that feel safe and natural.
WHO CAN BENEFIT FROM PLAY THERAPY?
Children and young people, usually aged 2-12years, experiencing…
- Social and emotional difficulties
- Low self-esteem and self-confidence
- Anxiety, stress, attachment issues
- Big transitions and life events, such as separation/moving house
- Loss and grief
- Externalised, aggressive behaviours
- Trauma and complex trauma
- Sleep disturbances
- Mutism or selective mutism
- Developmental delay and/or disability
- Neurodiversity (including Autism & ADHD)
EXAMPLE OBJECTIVES IN PLAY THERAPY
- Increase child’s ability to emotionally self or co-regulate
- Decrease volume and intensity of meltdowns or problem behaviours
- Support child to process traumatic experiences
- Enhance social skills and play skills
- Grow attachment and relationship between child and caregiver/s
- Increase child’s self esteem and sense of self
- Decrease night time disturbances (eg. nightmares)
How does it work?
1. INTAKE MEETING
2. PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS 1-5
3. PARENT / CARER UPDATE
4. PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS 6-10
5. PARENT / CARER UPDATE
WRITTEN REPORTS COMPLETED UPON REQUEST
6. REVIEW AND CONTINUE SESSIONS AS
NEEDED
a little more detail…
INTAKE MEETING
The intake meeting is an integral part of the play therapy process. It can take place in person or over the phone, with therapist and parent/carers present. It allows us the opportunity to meet and for me to learn about your child’s developmental history, interests and strengths, your family’s experiences and any presenting concerns. Children are not in attendance for this meeting in order to protect the development of child/therapist relationship and ensure we are not discussing your child in front of them.
We allow up to 90 minutes for this appointment so that the therapist can gain as much context as possible, get to know your hopes for play therapy and identify focus areas so that an individualised treatment plan can be developed.
PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS
Play therapy sessions are scheduled for 45 minutes, and take place in the playroom with your child and therapist present. CCPT is most effective when children attend sessions on a weekly basis, ideally on the same day and time to support consistency and predictability.
PARENT/CARER UPDATES
Parent/carer updates are scheduled after 4-5 play therapy sessions. They can take place over the phone or in person, allowing 30-60 minutes, as required. The update is conducted with the parent/carers of the child and without the child present. The update aims to find out how your child is going at home and in other settings and review shared goals. You will be provided with a broad overview of how things are going in session and any therapeutic skills or strategies that may support your child and family at home.
REPORTS
I provide written reports by request. Reports may include a session summary, progress, any assessment results, and further recommendations.
