Centre for Play Therapy

PLAY THERAPY

Who is eligible for play therapy?

C4PT currently provides play therapy services to children aged 2- 12 years, however referrals for young people will also be considered.

What are the benefits of play therapy?

Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with children experiencing a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioural and learning problems including:

• Anxiety

• Divorce

• Trauma

• ADHD

• Autism Spectrum Disorder

• Death/ grief and loss

• Chronic illness

• Physical and/ or sexual abuse

• Domestic violence

• Natural disasters

• Social/ relationship issues

Play therapy helps children:

• Become more responsible for behaviours and develop successful strategies

• Develop new and creative solutions to problems

• Develop respect and acceptance of self and others

• Learn to experience and express emotions

• Learn new social skills and relational skills with family

• Develop empathy and respect for self and others

ABOUT US

History

Centre for Play Therapy was established in February 2016 by founder and CEO Kylie Ellison. Kylie had recently completed child centred play therapy training through Play Therapy Australia and identified a need for local services specialising in child centred play therapy.Since that time, Centre for Play Therapy has grown, establishing offices at Nambour, Nerang, Mitchelton, Bayside and central Queensland.

Our vision

“Helping children heal through play”. For child centred play therapy to be recognised as the preferred method for supporting children and young people therapeutically who are struggling to cope.

Our mission

To provide a range of child centred play therapy services to assist children to process their feelings, thoughts and experience and thereby improving the quality of their lives.

Why Play Therapy?

Play therapy is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communication of children. Children use play to express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express it. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is their language. Play therapy provides the opportunity for children to develop insight and resolution about inner conflicts or dysfunctional thinking, along with learning more adaptive behaviours when there are emotional or skills deficits.

How does it work?

Sessions take between 30- 50 minutes on a weekly basis, with regular parent/ consultations also conducted to work in collaboration with all family involved.

What is Play Therapy?

Non-directive child centred play therapy (CCPT) is a structured, theoretically based approach to therapy that builds on the normal communicative and learning processes of children. Therapists strategically use play therapy to help children express what is troubling them when they do not have the verbal language to express their thoughts and feelings. In play therapy, toys are like the child’s words and play is the child’s language.  

Initially developed in the early 20th century, play therapy differs from regular play in that the therapist helps children to address and resolve their own problems. Play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about themselves and their relationships with the world around them. Through play therapy children learn to communicate with others, express feelings, modify behavior, develop problem solving skills, and learn a variety of ways of relating to others. Play provides a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows expression of thoughts and feelings appropriate to their development. 

Children are referred for play therapy to resolve their problems. Often, children have used up their own problem solving skills, and they misbehave, may act out at home, with friends, and at school. Play therapy allows trained mental health practitioners who specialize in play therapy to assess and understand children’s play. Further play therapy is utilized to help children cope with difficult emotions and find solutions to problems. By confronting problems in the clinical play therapy setting children find healthier solutions. Play therapy allows children to change the way they think about, feel toward and resolve their concerns.  

Play therapy is appropriate for children aged 2- 12 years old. Teenagers and adults have also benefitted from play techniques and recreational processes. Research indicates typically a child will require around 20 sessions on a weekly basis depending on the child. Research also indicates greater success for children when parents and carers are actively involved in the therapeutic process.

Services

Child Centered Play Therapy (CCPT)

30 - 50 minute session

Initial Parent Consultation

1 - 1.5 hour session

Subsequent Parent Consultation

1 hour session (every 4-6 weeks)

Filial therapy/ Child- Parent Relationship Therapy

(CPRT) 10 session program.  Ask us for further information about our Filial therapy services

Intensive Child Centred Play Therapy

(suitable for clients in rural and remote regions)

Teens Play Therapy Program

Supervision

Clinical Training Program

(See our Training Page for more information)

• We are currently able to provide Medicare rebates from our Mitchelton office. Contact Us for further information

• No GP referral needed.

• Cancellation and missed appointment fees may apply.

• Please contact us for further information, to arrange an initial parent consultation to assess whether play therapy is suitable for your child. All referrals welcome.

By Appointment only.

For all enquiries contact us today!