About CCPT
The world of play is the ideal environment to meet and communicate with a child who needs help. Here's how.
How Play Therapy Works
Child-Centered Play therapy is a unique and effective form of child-centered counseling for children aged 2-12 whereby the child is able to work through their experiences in the safety of a specially designed playroom setting alongside a trained therapist.
Who can benefit?
A child who is experiencing worry, change, trauma and other difficulties is often unable to verbally express what they are going through - they do not have the vocabulary or experience to explain what is happening for them - and it can show as sadness, anger, fearfulness, being withdrawn, rebelliousness, disruptive behaviour or overwhelm.
Child-Centered Play therapy helps children to address and express their feelings in a gentle and age-appropriate way and can can help with a variety of challenges including:
Trauma,
Stress and anxiety,
Parental separation,
Living with disability or chronic illness in the family,
Sibling rivalry,
Friendship difficulties,
Grief and loss,
Moving house,
Recovery from pregnancy or birth difficulties,
Low self-esteem.
By allowing the child the freedom to express themselves in a safe and trusting environment, Child Centered Play Therapy helps to foster increased self-esteem, emotional regulation, self-efficacy, self-acceptance, responsibility, emotional literacy and problem-solving skills.
How does CCPT work?
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. CCPT’s evidence-based model has proven effectiveness in develpoing a child’s understanding of and resolving psychological and psychosocial challenges.
We recommend a minimum of 16 weeks to complete the therapeutic process. This allows four weeks in each of the therapeutic stages and will be explained at our intake meeting.
16
Sessions are generally 45 minutes in length to give the child enough time to settle, get comfortable in the playroom environment and absorb themselves in the play.
45
The Four Stages of Play Therapy
Warm up
In which the child develops a relationship of trust with the therapist, explores the playroom and discovers the boundaries and limits within the therapeutic setting.
Creative / Expressive
In which the child tests the limits in the playroom and works through feelings such as hurt, anger, resentment and frustration
Regressive
In which the child works on issues related to attachment and connection to others, working through trauma and seeing themselves positively as an outcome.
Mastery
In which the child integrates the growth of all the stages and displays competence and understanding.
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.