Humanistic Play Therapy (Child Directed)
A child-directed counselling approach, using the power of play, therapeutic skills and the therapeutic relationship, to scaffold positive change. Often beneficial for children who require support with complex emotions, processing traumatic past experiences, demonstrating difficulties with anxiety or emotional dysregulation.
Additionally, children experiencing behavioural challenges presented through developmental delays or neurodevelopmental disorders such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may find play therapy helpful.
Parent support sessions (psychosocial education)
Delivered in person or virtually, parent support sessions are psychosocial education that aides in developing the parents or caregivers understanding of child development, play and behaviour.
Research demonstrates many benefits of having parents / caregivers directly involved in the therapeutic process.
Benefits
- Strengthening child-parent relationships.
- Developing further understanding of your child.
- Increasing parent knowledge of child play and overall development.
- Expanding on current parenting skills; limit setting, empathetic reflection, regulation.
- The Play Therapist supports the whole family within the intervention.
Filial Family Therapy
A psycho-educational intervention that involves the whole family, integrating humanistic play therapy skills and the child's main caregiver(s) to support long-term therapeutic change across the family dynamic.
Research demonstrates many benefits of having parents / caregivers directly involved in the therapeutic process.
Benefits of Filial Family Therapy?
- Strengthening child-parent relationships.
- Developing further understanding of your child.
- Increasing parent knowledge of child play and overall development.
- Expanding on current parenting skills; limit setting, empathetic reflection, regulation.
- Siblings also enjoy 1:1 time with parent.
- The Play Therapist supports the whole family within the intervention.
Integrative Play Therapy
In Integrative Play Therapy, the therapist incorporates a combination of play therapy modalities to best support the family and child holistically.
Often children may have pretend play skills, however, require additional support to deeply engage in child-directed play therapy.
Example:
- The child may demonstrate challenges initiating the play, the play therapist provides prompts to engage the child, once in the play, they can then play autonomously. Therefore, directive initially, however, transitions into child directed.
- The family may initially want to strengthen relationships or gain support through Filial Family Therapy. After completing sessions, it may be deemed beneficial by the Play Therapist that the child engages in humanistic play therapy to further work through presenting emotions or concerns demonstrated within the play.
"Learn to Play" Therapeutic Intervention (Therapist Directed)
A 12 week (minimum) therapeutic intervention developed by Karen Stagnitti, applying the play therapist is a co-facilitator in play. Supportive for children who may be experiencing challenges or delays with their spontaneous pretend play skills.
What can play challenges present like?
- Repetitive or limited play.
- Play rigidity or inflexibility.
- Frequent disconnections from play.
- Relies on adult support or direction to engage in play.
- Social disconnect in play, challenges initiating in play with peers.
- Play scripts that lack complexity.
- Becoming emotionally dysregulated during play, throwing or breaking toys.
"Learn to Play" is delivered through a neurodiversity-affirming approach, this means for neurodivergent children, supporting their understanding and increasing awareness of play skills. Blossoming Minds Play Therapy never expects or trains neurodivergent children to play typically. Instead, works to expand their self-confidence to engage in variety of play, minimising play rigidity and social disconnect.
Filial Family Therapy & "LEARN TO PLAY" THERAPEUTIC INTERVENTION
