Things To Know

Our first session will be an Intake Meeting with the parent or caregiver, which usually takes up to 90 minutes. This is a valuable time for us to sit together and talk in detail about your child’s world, covering their strengths, challenges, family life, and the concerns that have brought you to play therapy.

This initial conversation helps us understand your child within the context of your family. The process is always collaborative: we believe parents and caregivers are the expert in their child’s life, bringing essential knowledge and insight that make them a central part of the therapy journey.

Research shows that when parents actively engage and participate in their child’s therapeutic process, children experience the most positive and lasting change. Together, we can create the best possible foundation for your child’s growth and healing.

We tailor session lengths to suit children’s developmental needs:

• Children under 5 years – sessions are up to 30 minutes

• Children 5 years and older – sessions are up to 50 minutes

Every child is unique, so session times may be adjusted depending on their individual needs, energy, and developmental stage. This helps create the most supportive and effective therapeutic experience for your child.

It can be really helpful to prepare your child for the idea of meeting someone new and explain why you feel they might need a little extra support. You might like to tell them that they will be coming to a special playroom and that they will be meeting Stacey.

You could explain that the playroom is a place where they can do many of the things they enjoy, explore freely, and simply be themselves. If your child asks why they are going, you might say something like:

“Sometimes when things feel hard at school, at home, or when big changes happen, it can help to have a special place to play.”

Of course, this message can be adapted to suit your child’s age, personality, and circumstances.

For older children, the approach may look a little different. It can be more empowering for them to be part of the discussion alongside their caregivers.

In these situations, we may suggest having a conversation together before starting the intake process, so we can make the right decision together.

Children usually attend Play Therapy sessions on their own. However, it is important that parents stay in the waiting room so their child knows they are close by. If a child feels anxious, they may come out to check that their parent or caregiver is still there.

This is a natural and important part of the process, as it helps create a sense of safety and reassurance. Knowing you are nearby allows your child to feel secure enough to return to the playroom and continue their therapy.

We recommend holding back from the natural urge to ask your child whether they had fun in their play therapy session, or to seek details about what happened in the playroom. If your child chooses to share and initiates a conversation about their experience, that is absolutely fine. In those moments, it’s best to respond with warmth and genuine interest, while avoiding too many direct questions.

If your child doesn’t seem ready to talk about their session, it’s important to simply follow their lead and allow them to process in their own time. Sometimes children may want to bring home a piece of art or craft they’ve created in the playroom. If this happens, we suggest you gently acknowledge details about the work, for example, noticing the colours, shapes, or materials, rather than offering praise on the artwork itself.

Whatever your child has created, it holds great value simply because they created it. This approach helps children feel that their efforts are seen, valued, and appreciated, without feeling judged or evaluated.

Like many forms of therapy, the journey through play therapy is unique to each child and cannot be mapped out with complete certainty. On average, children may attend around 20–25 sessions before reaching a stage where therapy is no longer needed. Some children may benefit from fewer sessions, while others may require more, depending on their individual needs.

The frequency of sessions also plays an important role. Weekly sessions are strongly recommended to build consistency and therapeutic momentum. In some cases, fortnightly sessions may be considered after discussion with the therapist to ensure your child continues to receive the support they need.