Play Therapy at Chestnut Tree House

What is Play and Creative Arts Therapy?

Play and Creative Arts Therapy offers children and young people the chance to express and explore difficult feelings. Our therapist provides ongoing confidential support to children and young people with life limiting conditions. This service is extended to siblings. The therapist encourages therapeutic play working with the in-house Care Team and with the families through the Community Team.

Why Play and Creative Arts Therapy?

• Children and young people often use play to express how they are feeling.
  
• The Therapist provides a safe and trusting relationship. This communicates to the child or young person that they are not alone in how they feel. Together they can see and think through difficult feelings, regardless of their ability.
  
• To feel understood and less alone with the challenges they face awakens hope. Self confidence can increase to help them cope and feel more at ease with life.
  

Who can benefit from Play and Creative Arts Therapy?

Every child or young person can benefit from Play and Creative Arts Therapy, including those who:

• Have difficulty expressing how they are feeling due to illness or disability.
  
• Have difficulty being a carer and sibling of a child with disabilities.
  
• Have experienced or witnessed any form of neglect, violence or abuse.
  
• Have expressed unfamiliar behaviour (e.g. increased aggression, distress or being withdrawn).
  
• May be distressed or withdrawn due to loss (eg bereavement, family
  
• difficulties, diagnosis of new illness).
  

How does it work?

• Parents, child, or young person may be referred to see the therapist by contacting their key nurse.
  
• Prior to any child receiving therapy, parental consent is always obtained.
  
• Therapy is one to one and offers each session at the same time and place wherever possible.
  
• The therapist offers the use of various forms of play and creativity. This
  
• may include role-play, paints, drawing, play dough, music, movement, and
  
• puppets. This is a well recognised method of therapy.
  

The Play Therapist at Chestnut Tree House has been generously funded by BBC TV's Children in Need appeal.