Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

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Kia Ora, I'm Lucy Robins. BA, BEd, CPW PGrad Cert CCPT, MANZAPT

I am a qualified Child Centered Play Therapist, a member of the Teachers Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, and a member of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association for Play Therapy. I am also a Mother. From my curated, therapeutic play space in Albert Town, I help and support families by enabling positive growth through Child-Centered Play Therapy

A children's playroom with wooden walls, a beige carpet, and various toys and furniture arranged around the room, including shelves with toys, a cozy bean bag with cushions, and a desk with a chair.
Child Centered Play Therapy Wanaka Cabin Interior

What is CCPT?

Child-Centered Play therapy is a unique and effective form of counseling for children aged 2-12 whereby the child is able to work through their experiences in the safety of a specially designed environment alongside a trained therapist.

About CCPT
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Wanaka - Child playing with marbles

The thoroughly researched and proven CCPT model allows children to develop self-understanding, self-control, confidence, creativity and positive self-image.

How Play Therapy Works

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When a child experiences change, trauma, loss or grief, is worried about something, or is struggling at school, they are often unable to express their thoughts and feelings verbally. Child-Centered Play Therapy’s evidence-based model has proven effectiveness in developing a child’s understanding of and resolving psychological and psychosocial challenges.

The Therapeutic Process

The therapist is trained to enter the child’s world of play and follow their lead building a relationship of trust and a place of safety. Children are not directed or asked questions – the toys of the playroom become vehicles for their words.

Each session is 45 minutes long and a 16 session minimum is suggested. This framework allows the child to work through the 4 stages of Play Therapy: warm up, creative/expressive, regressive, and mastery.

How it works
Child-Centered Play Therapy (CCPT) Wanaka - Lucy Robins Profile

About Me

I was born in the UK, but after traveling extensively made New Zealand my home in 2002 and have spent over 15 years teaching in both Early Childhood and Primary settings before retraining and immersing myself in the wonderful world of Child-Centered Play Therapy. 

My career in education taught me that children learn and grow most effectively in an environment that promotes positive and caring relationships, and I often saw the need for more emotional support for both children and their families. Therefore, I chose to embark on a new journey, training as a Child Centered Play Therapist with ChildPlayWorks - an Internationally recognised provider of Child-Centered Play Therapy Training based here in New Zealand.

About Lucy

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Each session is 45 minutes long.

    For younger children the sessions may be shorter.

    I ask that you stay on site for the duration of the session.

  • Just as in adult therapy, the child’s sessions are confidential and I will not share what the child says and does, but we will have regular feedback meetings where I can talk about the general themes that your child is bringing, the therapeutic stage that they are in, and where we talk through the goals we have set. You can of course bring any questions or concerns at any time .

  • We recommend a minimum of 16 weeks to complete the therapeutic process working through each of the therapeutic stages. This will be explained in greater detail at our intake meeting.

  • We will discuss this more fully in our initial consultation but generally it is good to explain to your child that you have noticed that it would be good to get some extra help and support for what they are experiencing.

    It can be useful to explain that adults can go to see Counselors and Therapists when they are needing extra support with things too and that Play Therapy is a version for children.

  • ANZAPT is the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Play Therapy. Find out more here https://anzapt.nz/

  • Play Therapy Otago incorporates the four Play Therapists that work in the Wanaka Area. We are Lucy Robins, Frankie Dean, Natalie Astin and Clemmentine Hastings You can find out more about us here http://www.playtherapyotago.nz/

  • An absolute game changer

    What a difference Lucy has made. My little girl started off with some big feelings, and she finished with a much better sense of self, better self-esteem and the ability to communicate her feelings. An absolute game changer, she’s such a happier, confident and smiley little girl. Thank you Lucy, couldn't be here without you. 

    - Parent

  • A lasting impact

    We have appreciated our time immensely with Lucy! It has made a huge difference in our whānau. While the changes don’t happen overnight, they sure do have a lasting impact in the years that follow. Our daughter loved having a safe space where she could explore and test her limits and understand her thoughts and emotions. We are truly grateful for the time spent in Open Box Therapy and with the wonderful Lucy!

    - Parent

  • A Chance For Growth

    Lucy has been working with my daughter, who has battled since she was quite small to remain happy and emotionally balanced. Having Play Therapy has made a huge positive impact on my daughter.

    Being part of this journey with my children has been a huge light-bulb moment for me. I recommend every child should have the opportunity as it gives the parents a chance to grow as well.

    - Parent

  • A Calm, Nurturing Environment

    We are so grateful for the care and support Lucy has given our son. As an adopted child, He had a unique journey, and after the arrival of a new baby in our family, he understandably found the transition challenging. We wanted to make sure he had a safe and supportive space to work through his feelings—and Lucy has been exactly that.

    From the very first session, Lucy created a calm, nurturing environment where our son felt understood and secure. Her warm, intuitive approach has helped him express emotions he couldn’t always put into words, we saw such a positive shift in his confidence and emotional resilience. We truly can’t thank Lucy enough for the incredible work she does. Our son’s time with her has been such a gift to all of us.

    - Parent

  • Helped my daughter and I connect and build trust

    I was attending therapy for myself to break my family trauma cycles and navigate a separation and knew I needed support for my daughter as well. I knew I could not be her only support. I noticed a positive difference in my daughter after only 4 sessions with Lucy and the sessions continue to support her. She has grown in confidence and her feeling of security. This has also helped my daughter and I connect and build trust for any future hard things we may face. Would definitely recommend for the child who needs another person in their corner.

    - Parent

  • Improved self esteem and confidence

    We had an amazing experience working with Lucy. Her natural warmth and gentle energy made both parent and child feel really at ease in her playroom. Play therapy can feel like a really intangible thing when you’re doing it at times, but the results have been really positive for our child - for us it has been improved self esteem and a developed sense of confidence that have really helped his mental health journey.

    - Parent

  • A haven for children

    Lucy is a warm and compassionate play therapist who has played a vital role in supporting our family in a period of big transition. Her playroom is a haven for children to work towards mastery of the challenges they might be facing, and her insights invite parents to practice self-reflection and grow alongside their children. In doing so, Lucy has built a practice that is impactful for the whole family. 

    - Parent

Get in touch

To discuss if Child-Centered Play Therapy could be right for your whānau get in touch for a consultation to see the playroom and talk through any questions you might have.

Contact Lucy