PLAY THERAPY

What is Play Therapy?

Play is the natural language children use to communicate and is essential to their healthy development. It provides a developmentally appropriate way of expressing their thoughts and feelings. Play also provides children with a platform to explore relationships, make sense of experiences, and develop new coping strategies.

In the play room, with the support of a caring and trusted therapist, a child uses the toys and other material provided to express their inner world.

There are many modalities of play therapy, however the methods used at Little Village Play Therapy are Synergetic Play Therapy and NSST (Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Tray).

What is Play Therapy?

Play is the natural language children use to communicate and is essential to their healthy development. It provides a developmentally appropriate way of expressing their thoughts and feelings. Play also provides children with a platform to explore relationships, make sense of experiences, and develop coping strategies.

In the play room, with the support of a caring and trusted therapist, a child uses the toys and other material provided to express their inner world.
There are many modalities of play therapy, however the methods used at Little Village Play Therapy are Synergetic Play Therapy and NSST (Neuroscience and Satir in the Sand Tray).

Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT)

Synergetic Play Therapy (SPT) is a researched-informed model of play therapy grounded mainly in neuroscience, attachment theory, mindfulness and therapist authenticity.

SPT is not only a therapy model but a way of being that allows the therapist to connect with the child and support them through whatever challenge they may be experiencing at a deeply authentic level.

Using the toys, the child expresses their feelings/emotions and the therapist is able to model new ways of regulating or overcoming the challenge, which creates new neuropathways in the brain.

For more information on SPT please visit www.synergeticplaytherapy.com

NSST

NSST is a model of play therapy developed by Dr. Madeleine De Little which combines Traditional Sand Tray Therapy, Transformational Systemic Therapy, and Neuroscience.

With the development of a strong therapeutic relationship children use the toys as metaphors for their feelings and experiences and are able to recognize the special gifts of his/her presenting defensive behaviours. With the support of the therapist the child is then able to transform these no-longer useful defiance/coping states into a more integrated/balanced authentic self (where Words Can’t Reach, p.4, 2019).

For more information on NSST please visit www.wherewordscannotreach.ca

* Note: Play therapy (NSST and SPT) are effective intervention strategies with children and youth.

AREAS

Emotional regulation

including the ability to manage and communicate feelings of anger and aggression, excessive fear and worry, big feelings of sadness or depression, ADD/ADHD and other neurobiological disorders or sensory processing disorders, lack of body awareness.

Difficult life changes

including a change in living situation or being removed from a primary caregiver, a divorce or separation, or the loss of a loved one.

Complex family dynamics

including blended families, a family member who struggles with addiction or mental health concerns.

Social skills

including having difficulty making friends, isolation, increasing self-esteem and confidence, difficulty at school or in other social settings

I want your child to know that when they come into the playroom they can show up just the way they are

...and no matter how messy. That despite whatever challenges they might be going through they won’t be judged or asked to leave.

ABOUT

I work with children who are experiencing difficulty in the following areas, although this list is not exhaustive:

  • Trauma
  • Emotional regulation
  • Difficult life changes
  • Complex family dynamics
  • Social skills

CONTACT

+ 604-614-2537

littlevillageplaytherapy@gmail.com

© 2022 | Little Village Play Therapy. All rights reserved.

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