Through art and play children express uncomfortable feelings that interfere with their ability to develop at school and home.
If you think your child might benefit from a session, I suggest a preliminary meeting with both parent/s and/or carers to discuss the background factors to the referral.
Afterwards I usually recommend an initial assessment session with your child, followed by a series of one to five sessions. We will then arrange an informal review with the parent(s) - or the child and parent(s) together, to share observations and agree that your child is benefitting from the process.
I create a safe space, using a variety of methods and leave it to the child to choose. These may include:
Storytelling
Creative Visualisation
Drama
Puppets & Masks
Music Dance, Movement
Sand play
Painting & Drawing
Clay, plasticine & play dough
Above all the child is given ‘special time’. In modern life we often don’t seem to have enough time to spend with our children - playing, listening or simply accepting.
Over the course of a number of sessions, the child is given strategies to cope with difficulties they face in his/her life.
Play is a natural activity of learning, which in turn allows children to ‘play out’ what they may find difficult to put into words.
They can learn to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. They may re-enact or play out life experiences in order to make sense of the past and cope better with the future.
There are systems in the brain that release chemicals and hormones that reduce stress and anxiety. The Play System triggers well-being chemicals and stress-reducing hormones. This enables the individual (both adults and children) to feel calmer, participate more fully in what is going on and develop more positive relationships.