1. An Introduction into Play Therapy
Donna Purkis
Accredited Play Therapist
and Clinical Supervisor
"My Time"
Therapeutic
Play
Services
"My Time"
Therapeutic
Play
Services

2. Welcome Domestics Mobile Phones Participation & Safety Respect
No questions are silly
Plan and timings for the workshop

3. About me NNEB (Nursery nursing)
DPQS (Diploma in Post Qualifying Studies)
City and Guilds 7307.
‘A’ level Psychology.
City and Guilds Level 3 and 4 Working with Parents.
Certificate in Therapeutic Play Skills
Diploma in Practice based Play Therapy
Certificate in Creative Arts Supervision
Qualifications in working with Bereaved Children
20 years experience working in Primary Schools
10 years experience working in Family Support.
7 years experience as Play Therapist
2 years experience as Clinical Supervisor

4. Aims of workshop Description
To increase the participants awareness of Play Therapy.
Aims
For participants to gain a brief understanding of
What Play Therapy is
Who it is for
How it works
For participants to gain an insight into how they can use play therapy techniques.
For participants to experience the therapeutic process for themselves.

5. Plan and timings for the workshop
Introductions, with quick activity
Power point – What is Play Therapy etc
Practical activities
Power Point, case studies
Look at resources

6. What is play therapy?
A method of helping children with behaviour and emotional problems to help themselves.
Play is the child’s natural medium of self expression - it’s essential for development.
Opportunity to ‘play out ‘ their feelings and problems.
Therapeutic play empowers children to cope with problems in their lives and increases their self esteem.
Therapeutic play improves the emotional wellbeing of the child. It can be used to alleviate a mild emotional or psychological problem that is preventing the child from functioning normally.

7. Children experiencing
Who is play therapy for?
Children experiencing
Bereavement / Loss
Separated/Divorced Parents
Under Performing: Academic, Social, Cultural or Physical
Behavioural Problems
Communication Problems
Withdrawn
Trauma
Abuse
Nightmares
Delayed Development
Unauthorised Absences
Social Exclusion
Bullied/Bullies

8. By alleviating their emotional, behaviour and mental health problems.
The purpose of play therapy in schools is to help the children benefit from teaching.
By alleviating their emotional, behaviour and mental health problems.

9. Helping to meet the school objectives
What about the benefits to the teaching staff - as well as the child?
Better participation in group work
Improves communication with others
Develops listening skills
Improves concentration on work
And for ‘Achievement for all - need to act now’?
Reducing exclusions
Improved attendance rates

10. Did you know? 1 in 10 UK children suffer a mental health problem
Source:1999 Government Survey
1 in 5 children suffer a psychological disorder
Sources: Venables (1983);Rutter, Cox et al (1975);
Jeffers & Fitzgerald (1991); Porteous (1991) etc

11. Cells that Fire Together Wire Together
New neural pathways develop as we record new experiences.
Brain plasticity enables change
For the good - through therapy
For the bad - programming to patterns of abuse
RH side (emotions) develops before LH side (logic)
More brain centres light up in response to metaphor than any other form of human communication forming new neural pathways.
(Levin, F 1997 and Modell , A.H 1997)
So symbolic / fantasy play with its use of metaphors provides new experiences that develops the brain/mind.

12. Play aids the release of opioids and oxytocin:
You do not feel aggressive or anxious
You feel calm and psychologically strong
You have a feeling that everything is well in your world,
You have a deep sense of well-being
You feel safe in the world
The world has meaning
Your immune system works better.
You are better able to learn
Dealing with an ‘out of control child’
The reptilian brain has taken over from the cortex
‘IQ’ is reduced
Talking is no use - child has to be calmed through play and reflection

13. In the sand make a Sand World to represent a family.
Practical activity 1
In the sand make a Sand World to represent a family.

14. Use the creative resources to represent a family.
Practical activity 2
Use the creative resources to represent a family.

15. Benefits of use of Art materials
Pictures can act as a bridge between the worker and the child/young person
Just about anyone can use arts materials
Verbal and non verbal communication
Produces something concrete, that allow for discussion
Exploration of thoughts, ideas and issues
More awareness of feelings/issues previously hidden or only partly aware
Requires active participation
Release of feelings
Fun

16. The Holistic Child Understanding Communication Social Relations
APAC
The Holistic Child
Understanding
Communication
Physical
Skills
Social Relations
The
Whole
Child
Caring for Self
Emotional
Moral /
Spiritual
Creativity 16 16

17. Using the Main Therapeutic Play Tools

18. Websites Any questions www.mytimetherapeuticplay.co.uk
Any questions