Play Therapy

Play Therapy is a developmentally appropriate form of communication that enables children to explore difficult experiences in a safe environment supported by the trust, acceptance, boundaries, modelling and reflectiveness of a BAPT Registered Play Therapist® working alongside.

For more information about Play Therapy, please visit the British Association of Play Therapists’ website for further information, which can be found here:

Play Therapy – The British Association of Play Therapists

Theoretical Basis of Play Therapy

Play Therapy is based upon three critical theoretical principles:

Actualisation

Humans are motivated by an innate tendency to develop constructive and healthy capacities.

This tendency is to actualise each person’s inner potentials, including aspects of creativity, curiosity and the desire to become more effective and autonomous.

The Need for Positive Regard

All people require warmth, respect and acceptance from others, especially from significant others.

As children grow and develop, this need for positive regard transforms into a secondary, learned need for positive self regard.

Play as Communication

Children use play as their primary medium of communication.

Play is a format for transmitting children’s emotions, thoughts, values and perceptions. It is a medium that is primarily creative.