Play Therapy
This is Andrea Collins our Play Therapist
At St James’ we always look to provide the best strategies to enhance the lives of the whole child, to allow them to develop academically, socially and emotionally to their fullest potential.
Our Play Therapist adds to the professional support we can offer to our pupils, she provides individual sessions of play therapy every week in addition to the weekly lunchtime self-referred drop in sessions.
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is an approach in which games, toys and art activities are used to help a child to express their thoughts, wishes and needs. Children use play to communicate and succeed at their own level and at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened.
Play therapy can enable children to develop the resilience to cope with difficulties and enable them to grow in confidence in class, with their learning and across the whole school.
What does a play therapist do?
- work with an individual child on a 1:1 basis for 45 minutes each week.
- Participate in the activities and play.
- Create a safe environment in which the children can explore their own thoughts and perceptions.
- Not judge or interpret, but rather reflects on what she sees and experiences with the child.
Our Play Therapist believes in the child’s own ability to find a balance in their life, therefore helping them to become aware of what they are doing and gives them the opportunity to grow in confidence.
