FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS: WHAT TO EXPECT

Angelique will carefully select a variety of toys for your child to play with. These will include real life toys, acting out aggressive release toys, toys for creative expression, and toys for emotional release. Your child will select the theme, content, and process of the play. They’ll choose which toys to play with, set the pace, accept responsibility, and in the process discover their own strengths.

Toys are central to each session. Your child will use toys to express a wide range of feelings, explore real-life experiences, push against the limits of reality, build a positive self-image, develop self-understanding, and practice self-control.

WHAT SHOULD I TELL MY CHILD ABOUT WHY THEY ARE COMING TO PLAY THERAPY?

You can tell your child that they will be coming to a place with a special playroom and they will be seeing Angelique there. You may want to tell your child that the playroom is a place where they can do most of the things they want to do. If your child asks why they are going there, you might say something like, “When things are hard at school , home, with friends, or with things changing at home etc…it can help to have a special, safe place to play.” Please adapt this based on your circumstances.

With older children I will spend a bit more time at the beginning of the first session with the caregivers present, talking about why they are coming for play therapy sessions. I will speak very sensitively with your child about this. I am committed to creating a positive experience for your child.

HOW LONG AND FREQUENT ARE THE PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS?

Sessions are usually scheduled on a regular basis for 50 minutes. Sometimes with very young children, or children with special needs, the sessions may be shorter. The sessions are generally weekly, and where possible I like to have a regular time scheduled for your child. This becomes your child’s special play time and this predictability and consistency is important for the play therapy process. This consistency will also help your child feel secure.

If you arrive late for a session we will finish at the scheduled time unless there has been an agreed rescheduling of the session time in advance. If I am ever running late I will extend the session to give your child their designated amount of time.

WHAT CLOTHES SHOULD MY CHILD WEAR TO THEIR SESSION?

Please dress your child in comfortable clothes and shoes that they will not worry about getting paint, sand, or water on. If you are coming straight from school, please bring another set of clothes for your child to get changed into. Wearing relaxed, comfortable clothes like this will help your child feel less anxious in the playroom and can also allow them to feel more free.

DO I NEED TO STAY WHEN MY CHILD IS IN THEIR PLAY THERAPY SESSION?

Yes. It’s important that your child knows you are in the waiting room and can come and check should they become anxious.

WHAT IF I HAVE TO CANCEL A SESSION?

You may cancel your session without penalty if you give at least 24 hours notice. Any less than 24 hours notice and you will be required to 50% session fee.

WHAT WILL MY ROLE BE AS A CAREGIVER THROUGHOUT MY CHILD’S PLAY THERAPY SESSIONS?

Each child is unique. My work with your child will be focussed on their particular experience. We will move through a number of stages in the play therapy process. Typically after every 5 sessions I will meet with you to discuss the stage and themes I am observing during our play therapy sessions.

I will also speak with you about the themes I am observing during our play therapy sessions. We will discuss how you can compliment the play therapy process outside of the scheduled sessions. In child-centred play therapy, we do not generally talk about a child’s specific play as this can interfere with the child feeling free to express what they are feeling.

WHAT SHOULD I SAY TO MY CHILD WHEN THEY FINISH THEIR PLAY THERAPY SESSION?

Often after a play therapy session, children do not want to talk about what has happened. This is perfectly normal. Your child will be exploring their inner world in the sessions and learning to create the space to develop their own skills and build their resilience. Because of this, I recommend that you do not ask your child how it was in the playroom or if they had fun today. If your child wants to tell you about what they did during the session, then I suggest you listen, respond in a positive way, don’t ask questions, but instead show interest in what your child is telling you by reflecting their experiences in your response. For example, “It sounds like you had fun / were bored / painted a lot today.”

If you child brings a painting or picture out of the play therapy session, rather than praising your child or the picture, please try to respond more generally. For example, “You have used a lot of different colours in your picture.” Or, “It looks like you took a lot of time doing that picture. It seems really special to you.” If your child does choose to draw or paint, whatever the child does in the play therapy session is of great value. It does not matter if it looks like “a beautiful picture”, or if it looks like, “a mess of black and brown”. It is special because it has come from your child’s inner world.

MY CHILD HAS DIFFICULTY AT SCHOOL. CAN YOU SPEAK WITH THEIR TEACHER OR OTHER PROFESSIONALS INVOLVED WITH MY CHILD ABOUT THEIR PLAY THERAPY?

I am more than happy to speak with your child’s teacher and to discuss how the school can support the play therapy process. It can also be very helpful for me to speak with the teacher or any other professionals involved with your child to get a picture of how your child is doing educationally, emotionally, psychologically, and socially. I will need your written consent before speaking with teachers or other professionals involved with your child. I will notify you before I make contact and also provide feedback about what was discussed. If these consultations begin to take a significant amount of time, I will discuss a fee schedule with you prior to continuing discussions.