The Therapeutic Toolkit - more than just toys
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A Play Therapy room contains a carefully selected toolkit of toys, games and art materials specifically chosen to deepen the therapeutic experience.
These are selected for their potential to support emotional growth and healing, providing tools to express themselves and navigate challenges. ​​Wherever possible these don't have rules, are open ended and can be played with a large variety of ways to encourage communication and give the child autonomy.​
My toolkit is selected to be age appropriate to the child and arranged to promote open-ended play and emotional exploration. ​
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Whilst I recognise the importance of technology in children's play in the modern world, Play Therapy sessions are device free. After extensive research I have carefully selected some age appropriate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) inspired toys for children to choose to play with if they wish.
Drama and Roleplay
Play therapists train in principles of drama, movement and dance therapy. Children can connect to their feelings using freedom of expression without judgement or pressure to perform.
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Dance and movement allow non-verbal communication, especially those who struggle to articulate with words.​
Masks, puppets, and dressing up encourage roleplay and self discovery.
Therapeutic story writing
Children can connect deeply to stories that have themes they can relate to.
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Therapeutic stories are carefully and intentionally written to help identify with characters and address issues offering a fresh perspective to inspire a child struggling with their own story.
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Guided mindfulness can encourage children to stop and pause in their day for regular practice of mindful breathing exercises to reduce anxiety and stress.
Symbols & Metaphors
Using symbols creatively helps children to visualise various experiences and emotions from a fresh perspective.
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It can feel easier to use metaphor than to speak directly about difficult feelings.
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Play therapists do not 'interpret' or psychoanalyze what a child is showing them. Instead they offer a way to ​open up dialogue at an age appropriate level that acknowledges the child's right to choose what resonates with them.
Sensory Play therapy
Sensory play with carefully chosen activities stimulates a child's sympathetic nervous system through touch. It can encourage creative thinking, spatial awareness, and problem solving.
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Slime develops tactile sensitivity and encourages imaginative play. ​Scented putty stimulates the senses, providing calming proprioceptive input. Messy play in sessions allows release of feelings. Children are not expected to clear up after as this mess is part of their process.
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Music Therapy
Music is an effective therapeutic medium on its own, allowing for emotional expression regulating and exploring mood through tempo and rhythm.
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Movement and dance with music can energize children through fast beats helping to express experience symbolically through sound. It can sooth children with slow melodic gentle tunes.
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Music can offer communication for those with speech challenges, encourage spontaneity through use of improvisation.
Art Therapy
Drawing, painting, and other creative art forms allows self expression to flow and evolve from the subconscious with deeply powerful results
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In an increasing digital age, the freedom to create art that reflects how we truly feel is liberating and can for some be a life changing experience.
Every child deserves the opportunity to get messy, immerse themselves in the joy of creating art that speaks from the heart.
Sand tray Therapy
Sand tray therapy is a powerful expressive technique using a large shallow box filled with fine soft dry or kinetic sand.
A wide selection of miniature figures of people, animals, natural materials, objects, symbols to create scenes or stories, allowing unconscious thoughts and feelings to emerge in symbolic form.
​Children can safely work through emotions, conflicts or trauma in a visual non-permanent and transformative way.
Clay in Therapy
Using clay is a primitive art traditionally used in primary schools but it can be a meditative and deeply satisfying process.
Children can gain catharsis from creating with putty, playdough or modelling clay as well as traditional air drying clay. The choice is an individual preference.
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The act of squeezing or pounding can discharge frustration or tension. Reshaping can bring release through rolling, cutting or pressing.
"The most important toy in the playroom is the therapist themselves" Lisa Dion, Founder, Synergetic Play Therapy Institute