What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a special therapeutic approach designed for children. Because children often prefer playing to talking, play is a central part of the experience. The child is offered a safe, supportive environment where, rather than directly explaining, children can play about their feelings.

What happens?
The play therapist will have a variety of toys and other creative resources. The session will take place in a quiet room, where the play will not be interrupted. It will usually be a weekly session of 45-50 minutes depending on the age of the child. Parents are not expected to be in the play session, although some children may need a parent to stay with them at first. Children usually enjoy play therapy very much and look forward to their sessions.

Practical points There is a cafe in the community centre where parents can wait for children and get a hot drink etc. Please don't wait outside the room.
Play can be messy! Although we use “washable” paints and have aprons, please dress children in old, practical clothes which don't matter too much.
Please encourage your child to use the toilet upstairs before their session, we don't have one on our level and making the trip upstairs would lose time from the session.

The aims of play therapy
The play therapy at Mosac is child centered and non directive. The child will be able to do things at their own pace. The aim is to help the child identify and express difficult feelings and explore his or her abilities and strengths. Play therapy does not “teach” different behaviors. However, as children explore different ways of managing feelings, they often stop feeling the need to use inappropriate behaviour.

The Play Therapist
The Play Therapist at Mosac has trained at a British Association Of Play Therapists (BAPT) approved course and is a full member of BAPT. Play Therapists have developed particular skills and knowledge to work with children from around 4 to 12. Our play therapist has also completed the Mosac training in understanding child sexual abuse and has an up-to date enhanced CRB check.

Confidentiality
It is important for a child to have privacy in order to feel able to express themselves freely. However, successful play therapy requires a working alliance between parent, child and therapist. So the Play Therapist will meet with parents on a regular basis to give a general overview of the work and get feedback, without disclosing the details of therapy sessions.
Mosac abides by the BACP's ethical framework, which is very similar to BAPT's. Our child protection policy states that we will break confidentiality if we believe a child is at risk. This would usually be discussed with the parent first. Our play therapist receives regular monthly supervision with an experienced supervisor, who also abides by the BACP Ethical framework.

How long will it take?
Play therapy is not magic (although some children think it is!) and sometimes children can feel a bit worse after a session and maybe “act out” afterwards. Just as in adult counselling, it is important to give the process time. You and your child will be asked to come for 6 sessions as part of the assessment process. Then, together, we will think about how long the play therapy will be.
Before your child comes for his/her assessment sessions, the play therapist will ask to meet with the parent(s) without the child. This is so the therapist can learn about your family history as well as your worries and concerns for your child. The child can begin to express their own views in the first few sessions of play.
Sometimes the Play therapist may feel that play therapy would not be appropriate for this child at this particular time, or that the child needs a different type of intervention.

Cancellations
If you are not able to bring your child to a session, you must let the therapist know as soon as possible by calling the Helpline on 0800 980 1958. It is very helpful make sure your child knows why they cannot go to therapy that week as well. The therapist will expect to see you both the next week at the usual time. It is not possible to rearrange sessions.
If we do not hear from you after two weeks we will assume you no longer want play therapy for your child and will offer the place to another child. Please be aware that suddenly breaking off therapy can be very detrimental to a child. If you are not happy about continuing, it would be more appropriate to allow some time for a planned ending to the therapy.

Please feel free to contact us in the future if you decide you want your child to start play therapy again.

Occasionally, there might be times when the play therapist cannot attend a session. If this happens the therapist will try to let you know in advance, or contact you as soon as possible.