What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is an age and developmentally appropriate therapeutic intervention for children who experience social and emotional difficulties. Play is a child's natural form of communication. As children do not have the cognitive capacity to understand big feelings and emotions. A child's emotional state may then manifest through their behaviour.
​
Play therapy is beneficial for children and adolescents who experience:
​
Anxiety,
Depression,
Self-harm,
Low-self esteem,
Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties,
Neurodivergent - ASD, ADHD,
Medical Trauma,
Trauma,
Bereavement and loss,
​
Play Therapy is an appropriate intervention for children from the ages of three and upwards.
​
​
​
TESTIMONIALS FROM PARENTS
ABOUT ME
I am a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist with a specialisation in Play Therapy. I completed my Masters in Integrative and Humanistic Psychotherapy. I also have a Post Graduate Diploma in Play Therapy, and an Honours Degree in Social Care.
I currently work in private practice and I am based in Wexford town. I also work in primary schools in the South-East.
I previously worked as a play therapist and delivered parent training in services in Wicklow, Kilkenny and Limerick.
I have published several parenting articles in Irelands Mums and Tots magazine.
I also have a diverse background working with children and adults with disabilities prior to my psychotherapy training.
I am fully accredited with IAPTP- Irish Association of Play Therapy and Psychotherapy.
MY SERVICES
PLAY THERAPY
Play Therapy starts with a parent consultation. This is to gain more information on the child's presenting difficulties. Play Therapy then takes place consistently every week.
The amount of sessions needed depends on the presenting issues, the child, and the family system.
​
PARENTING SUPPORT
Individualised parenting programmes are also available.Â
This involves a parent consultation to discuss the child's presenting issues. A support plan is then devised catered to the child and families needs. This is then reviewed every 4-6 weeks.
MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTIONS
Mental Health interventions may be delivered in Schools or in Child Care services. Mental Health Interventions can be tailored to meet the needs of the service. The purpose of these programmes is to support staff in responding to children's emotional and behavioural difficulties in a more appropriate and therapeutic way.
​
GROUP WORKSHOPS
Group workshops are facilitated in school settings with groups of children. These are catered to meet the needs of the school. Some examples of six week courses for children are: Anxiety, understanding emotions, bullying, bereavement and low-self esteem.
"Play is a child's natural medium of communication" - Virginia Axline
CONTACT CLAUDIA
