Exciting announcement!
Our non-profit, A New Hope Academy, dedicated to supporting mental health professionals,
has launched—visit www.anewhopeacademy.org today!
Are you worried that something is troubling your child?
Are you worried that your child seems sad, anxious, or is frequently complaining of stomach aches or refusing to go to school? Are you getting reports from school that your child is having emotional outbursts, struggling to focus, or being disruptive in class? Perhaps you are concerned about their eating, sleeping, or toileting patterns, and how they are getting along with friends and family. You're losing sleep trying to figure out to support them, but you feel like you've tried everything and that nothing seems to be working.
Children tend to show us they are struggling with their feelings through behaviour rather than verbally, as they are still developing and often lack the words to express their thoughts and feelings fully. Our specially-trained child therapists at A New Hope Therapy Center understand how children communicate, and offer play therapy to help children aged 3 to 12.
No matter what your child may be going through, individual and group play therapy can provide the support they need to heal, grow, and thrive. We recognize that it takes courage to reach out for help, and we are here to partner with parents, offering tools and guidance to help you better understand and support your child.
What can play therapy help
children with?
Children are often referred for play therapy for a whole range of issues including behavioral and emotional outbursts, difficulties in daycare or school, as well as trauma. Children also can benefit from play therapy if there is family stress present, including separation, divorce, illness, death and loss. Play Therapy has been proven to be effective in addressing a range of difficulties, and help children with:
Understanding & expressing feelings & needs
Enhancing self-esteem and self-image
Adjusting to life and family changes
Overcoming fears and anxieties
Building skills to cope with frustration
ABOUT PLAY THERAPY
What is Play Therapy and How Does it Help Children?
Play therapy is a specialized, evidence-based form of counseling for children aged 3-12 that uses a child's natural way of expressing their inner worlds - play. Play is a child's first form of communication and toys toys are their 'words'. Play therapists utilize techniques to help children express what they cannot otherwise say out loud, at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or pressured.
Our play therapists are trained to understand a child's play, to communicate back in a similar fashion in a way that meets the child's developmental level. Through play therapy, children communicate and come to better understand muddled thoughts and feelings, expand their emotional vocabulary, and master coping skills to help them manage stress.
We offer a whole host of creative play therapy techniques both one-to-one and in groups designed to enable children to express themselves in ways that are comfortable and engaging to them. From puppets, sand tray, and therapeutic conversations around favourite TV shows, to utilising video and role-playing games such as Animal Crossing and Dungeons & Dragons, we meet children where they are and connect with their unique interests.
EMDR Therapy for Children
Affected by Trauma
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is well-recognised as a specific, effective therapy therapy for children who have experienced traumatic events.
At A New Hope Therapy Center, we are proud to have specially-trained therapists who can adapt EMDR with play techniques to meet specific needs and developmental stages of children. For example, the sandtray or pictures may be used, or a story written, if the child is struggling to talk about the trauma. Visit our EMDR page for more information.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
From what age can children receive play therapy? From the age of 3 upwards. Play therapy is widely recognized as the most effective treatment approach for children between the ages of 3 and 12.
Can play therapy take place online as well as face-to-face? Absolutely! We believe therapy should be accessible and convenient, and we are delighted to offer play therapy conveniently via phone, tablet or computer. Studies have shown that online therapy is equally effective as face-to-face sessions, and all our child therapists are trained in telehealth-specific methods.
How can I find out more about play therapy? The Association for Play Therapy has many resources available at: www.a4pt.org
Ok, I'm ready - what's next? Click here to request an appointment.
Our Child Therapists
Our specialist team of experienced child therapists are committed to providing personalized, culturally-sensitive play therapy. We are proud to include Spanish-English bilingual child therapists on our team so that children and their families can speak and be heard in whichever language they feel most comfortable in.
