Sometimes children struggle with the way they think, feel or bahave. You might be feeling sad, angry or worried about something. You might not be feeling great inside and this might be causing you to cry, to fight, to argue or fall out with friends or to not to say anything.

It can be very difficult to manage these feelings and to cope in school and at home. All of this can be big and scary to talk about it and you might prefer not to talk at all.

A play therapist gives you time with them in a safe space to play with activities and creative arts while they are with you (games, sand, clay, creative activities such as painting etc.). They can help you feel better and improve how you are coping with the things that are troubling you.

The Play Therapist will meet with you and arrange to see you at the same time and in the same place every week.

The session is normally about 45minutes and you will have this time to chose from activities and toys that the Play Therapist brings. Examples of these include: Sand, Art, painting and drawing activites, Puppets, Lego, Drama and role-play, Music, Clay, Games, Therapeutic Storytelling, and movement. You choose what you want to do or say while you are in this safe space.

The Play Therapist won't ask you lots of questions. They can help you to play out the things that might be bothering you or give you the space to do so. The Play Therapist will remind you that you need to keep each other safe and try to keep the toys in the play room safe but you can choose what you would like to do when you are there.

The Play Therapist has to keep everything confidential. This means that things that you talk about or activities you decide to choose from, are all private. They will not tell anyone else what happens in your sessions even if you tell them you don't like someone. This is your time and it is confidential between you and the Play Therapist.

Sometimes the Play Therapist might need to tell the grown-ups important things, but what you play and talk about in sessions is kept private. They will ask you if there is anything you want the grown-ups to know and make it clear what information they will need to share with them so that you can feel comfortable about this.

The Play Therapist has an important job to keep you safe and if they are very worried about you, they will tell you. You may have to tell a grown-up because it is important to tell someone else that you are not safe.

The Play Therapist will help you to understand and manage better with some of your feelings. This can help the worries and problems to feel smaller and you may find better ways to cope with them.

It can take quite a long time for things to improve or feel any different but when you reach the end you will feel better and be able to manage without the Play Therapist.

The Play Therapist will prepare you for ending the sessions with them. Ending might feel difficult for you but they will help you, and you will have the choice to take home all the things you might have made during your sessions.

Play Therapy helps lots of people. Sometimes small children and sometimes even adults. There are always activities and games you can choose from that can help you to relax and play and if you want to create something new in the space you can use the resources available. Your play Therapist might help you to create or act out things to help you understand them and find new ways to manage or overcome them.