Play based therapy for children
Play based therapy for children
Children who have experienced trauma or attachment disruption require re-connection and a healthy integration of their experience. The alternative is pain and dysregulation that may show up in their day-to-day lives as ‘big’ or challenging behaviour. An Interplay or ‘attachment play-based therapy’ facilitator works together with the child and their caregiver to understand where the disruption occurred and the consequences it has in both their lives.
Play based therapy
for children
Children who have experienced trauma or attachment disruption require re-connection and a healthy integration of their experience. The alternative is pain and dysregulation that may show up in their day-to-day lives as ‘big’ or challenging behaviour. An Interplay or ‘attachment play-based therapy’ facilitator works together with the child and their caregiver to understand where the disruption occurred and the consequences it has in both their lives.
“Toys are children’s words, and play is their language.”
– G.L. Landreth
Who is Interplay for?
About Interplay
Interplay is a nurturing, non-directive approach that blends humanistic principles with attachment theory. It is a research informed, universal language focused on healing through relationship and re-connection.
At the heart of Interplay therapy is the belief that the parent-child relationship is the most important relationship in the world. By prioritising this bond, we see children and parents/caregivers together in our playrooms, supporting their connection and healing together. Through play, Interplay therapy fosters safety and trust in a fun and supportive environment, where participants actively engage in play-based activities and role-play.
Working together with parents/caregivers and their children we share the playroom to explore the relationship and deepen our understanding of past experiences. Once we have understanding we can identify the underlying need (pain) and unravel the ‘big behaviours’. By re-focusing our attention on meeting the needs rather than changing the behaviour, we naturally strengthen the attachment and heal the relationship!
Research supports the efficacy of this therapeutic approach with children experiencing a range of emotional, developmental and behavioural challenges and is suitable for anyone looking to improve their child’s emotional well-being and interpersonal relationships.
About Emma, your Interplay therapist
About Emma, your Interplay therapist
I was living with crippling grief, had just turned 40 and was rapidly expiring as a full-time mum when I decided to go back to school and become a therapist. And while art therapy is my passion project, Interplay is an approach, a lens and set of principles in which I now view the world. One that I wish so badly, I’d had in my back pocket 20+ years ago!
When my children were younger, big behaviours felt personal and like payback for some pretty rookie parenting. I had little understanding around them and struggled with how to manage it. Now I see it all so differently. I now know challenging or ‘big behaviour’ is an externalised expression of an internalised unmet need: meet the need and the unwanted behaviours disappear. It is that simple! My purpose here remains to facilitate more help and healing through connection and education. It starts with a conversation and I’m here waiting for it… x
I was living with crippling grief, had just turned 40 and was rapidly expiring as a full-time mum when I decided to go back to school and become a therapist. And while art therapy is my passion project, Interplay is an approach, a lens and set of principles in which I now view the world. One that I wish so badly, I’d had in my back pocket 20+ years ago!
When my children were younger, big behaviours felt personal and like payback for some pretty rookie parenting. I had little understanding around them and struggled with how to manage it. Now I see it all so differently. I now know challenging or ‘big behaviour’ is an externalised expression of an internalised unmet need: meet the need and the unwanted behaviours disappear. It is that simple! My purpose here remains to facilitate more help and healing through connection and education. It starts with a conversation and I’m here waiting for it… x