Children’s needs in therapy are similar to those of an adult but with additional considerations for the developmental stages of childhood.
In a child- play therapy session a child needs:
- to be able to make independent decisions about some of the choices for play activities
- to be met where he or she is developmentally and emotionally
- to experience the playroom as welcoming , fun and emotionally safe
- to trust in the confidentiality of the session.
My responsibility as a child-play therapist is:
- to assess the developmental stages of a child and provide age- appropriate activities
- to know the value, meaning and stages of play
- to communicate with children in a way that encourages trust
- to help children learn coping skills and surmount developmental challenges
- to include the child’s parent/s in the development of a treatment plan