What Is A Play Therapist?

Play therapists are clinical practitioners who promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing. They undertake extensive training, supervision and personal therapy.

Play therapists are often also trained in psychotherapy and use play as the language by which they communicate with children. They use approaches, interventions, media, and activities that are appropriate to the age and developmental stage of the client, which enable the child to communicate nonverbally, symbolically and in an action-oriented manner. The development of a therapeutic relationship is central to their work. The play therapist is an informed container of the child’s therapeutic work providing a unique understanding of the child’s inner world. Play therapy is relationship based – the power of the therapy comes from the strength of the relationship between the Play Therapist and the child.