Frequently Asked Questions

In Play Therapy, your child spends time in a specially prepared playroom with a qualified therapist. The playroom is filled with toys, art materials, games, and creative resources that help children express themselves in ways that feel natural and safe.

Your child is free to choose how they would like to play, while the therapist carefully observes, joins in when invited, helpful, or needing to provide safety. The therapist supports your child to explore their thoughts and feelings through play. Sometimes this looks like building, drawing, storytelling, role-play, or simply exploring and experimenting.

While it may look like “just play” from the outside, every choice your child makes in the playroom is meaningful and utilising the therapeutic powers play provides. Through this process, children can work through challenges, build coping skills, and develop confidence in expressing themselves.

Parents are always an important part of the journey. While the playroom is your child’s private space, if a child requests for their parent to be in the session, they are welcome in and the therapist will explain at intake what your role is during those times.

This depends on the Play Therapy approach used. Usually, Child-Centred Play Therapy is one-on-one with the child. However, parents play a very important role. If a child requests their parent be in the playroom, we accommodate this and work together to build the child’s confidence in the safety of the playroom and the importance of it being their space. 

We meet with parents before, during, and after the therapy process to share progress, provide guidance, and ensure we’re supporting your child’s needs together. In Filial Therapy, the therapist walks alongside the parents in the therapeutic process.

A session is 45 minutes of face-to-face contact with the child, and 15 minutes of clinical notes, administration and set up/ pack up.  Though this is an hour, there may be times that the 45 minutes in the playroom may be shorter.  This will only ever occur for the safety of the child.  

The therapist will never force a child to stay in the playroom if they wish to leave.  Often, they may want to check for security that their adult is still waiting for them and return to the playroom.  Other times, they may be working through big feelings and simply can’t face anymore, in which case they need nurture, comfort and their secure person.  If this occurs the therapist shall let you know, via email or phone call after the child is regulated and you’ve left the practice, the events that occurred and share insights, progress, and strategies for supporting your child at home. 

Currently, Play Therapy cannot be claimed under Medicare, or a Mental Health Care Plan. However, there are Private Health Insurance funds that do cover Counselling or Play Therapy.

At Play Plus Therapy, we recognise the importance of accessability of Play Therapy to every family, are always welcome conversations regarding payment plans.

We work with NDIS participants (self-managed or plan-managed). 

If you would like to make a financial donations that is contributed to a child who needs Play Therapy, please get in touch.

You can tell your child that Play Therapy is a special time where they can play, draw, and talk with someone who listens and cares. It’s a safe space just for them. There are also picture books available for purchase that can also help a child understand. You may also wish to play out attending a new place with your child, using a dollhouse or plush toys. The therapist shall also send a short video message to your child prior to their first session, so they may see and hear the therapist ahead of time.

While evidence shows Play Therapy is most effective for children aged 2-12 years, we know that each child is unique, and that chronological age does not always meet developmental age. Therefore, we always recommend parents of children aged 2 – 18 years call to discuss their unique situation. There is plenty of evidence to show that older children and teenagers can also benefit from Play Therapy, depending on their needs.

Play Therapy can support children experiencing:

• Anxiety, worry, or stress
• Behavioural difficulties
• Emotional regulation challenges
• Family changes (separation, divorce, new siblings)
• Social difficulties or friendship challenges
• Trauma or grief
• Developmental or learning needs