What is Play Therapy?
Non-directive play therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses play and art materials to help children express and explore their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Through play, children can act out experiences and rehearse possibilities for change using metaphor and symbolism. Below are some of the issues that play therapy can help with:
How to Schedule an Appointment
| Step | Details |
|---|---|
| Options | Face to Face, Phone, Email, Skype |
| Initial Consultation | Free (approx. 15 minutes). Discuss suitability, your child’s strengths & challenges, and explore support options. |
| Assessment & Review | Developmental history + 4 assessment sessions & review — £300 |
| Therapy Sessions | Follow-up sessions: £55 each Blocks of 10 sessions recommended 50 minutes per session, same time each week Number of sessions tailored to your child’s needs |
What these sessions might look like?
What Does Play Therapy Mean?
Social Navigation
Play therapy has also been shown to help autistic and neurodivergent children understand social navigation, improve emotional expression and regulation ability, improve reactive and symbolic play communication, and provide improvement in the parent/child relationship. Some core mental health issues can also be addressed through play therapy such as relationship development, and recognition and expression of emotion. Further benefits include reducing behaviours that challenge and improving self-worth.
Creative Mediums
The Benefits
The benefit of play therapy lies in its ability to engage children in what they naturally do best—play—within a safe and supportive environment. Under the guidance of Louise, our Master’s qualified Play Therapist, she will offer a safe space and a therapeutic relationship with the child. This approach enables Louise to assist children in understanding their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, making sense of their experiences, and developing effective strategies for change when necessary.
While the details of play therapy remain confidential, it emphasises collaboration with the key figures in the child’s life by identifying themes that emerge during play. The process begins with an initial assessment to determine the suitability of play therapy, followed by regular reviews and reports as needed.
Louise
Louise brings over 20 years of experience as a Social Worker, specialising in child protection and children’s hearings, as well as navigating court processes. Her extensive local knowledge further enhances her expertise. Additionally, she serves as an associate assessor with a focus on ADHD developmental histories and is trained in both ADOS and ADI-R assessments. Louise’s approach to Play Therapy is neurodiversity-affirming, valuing the child’s voice and identity, which aligns perfectly with our overall philosophy at Enlightened Minds.
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Case Studies: The Impact of Play Therapy on Children’s Emotional Growth
When children experience emotional distress, trauma, or developmental challenges, they don’t always have the words to explain how they feel. Play therapy offers a way in, using toys, art, storytelling, and creativity as tools for emotional expression and healing.
At Enlightened Minds, our Play Therapy service provides a safe, structured environment where children can explore their thoughts and feelings through non-directive play. Guided by Louise, our experienced and neurodiversity-affirming therapist, each session is designed to build trust, confidence, and self-awareness at the child’s own pace.
Below are two real-life examples of how play therapy has transformed the lives of children and their families.
Case Study 1: Lily’s Path from Withdrawal to Expression
Age: 7 – Referral Reason: Bereavement, anxiety, and selective mutism
Lily was referred to Enlightened Minds following the sudden loss of her grandmother, the person she was closest to. In the months that followed, she became withdrawn, refused to speak at school, and experienced frequent nightmares. Her parents felt helpless, unsure how to reach her or help her grieve.
Louise introduced Lily to the play therapy room gently, allowing her to explore at her own pace. In the early sessions, Lily gravitated towards miniature figures and sand trays. Without needing to speak, she began recreating scenes of separation and reunion, gradually using metaphor to process the loss.
As trust developed, Lily began to paint, build, and eventually narrate stories about characters overcoming fear and sadness. Through these creative expressions, Louise was able to identify key emotional themes and guide Lily toward emotional resolution.
After twelve sessions, Lily had started speaking again in small groups at school, re-engaged in playdates with friends, and told her mum, “I feel less scared inside now.”
Her parents described the process as “a breakthrough” not just for Lily, but for their understanding of what she needed.
Case Study 2: Theo’s Journey Toward Emotional Regulation
Age: 9 – Referral Reason: ADHD, aggressive behaviour, and school exclusion risk
Theo had recently received an ADHD diagnosis and was struggling with explosive outbursts at home and school. His teachers described him as “bright but unpredictable,” and his parents were exhausted from constant crisis management. They feared he was being labelled before being understood.
Through play therapy sessions with Louise, Theo was given a non-judgmental space where he could lead the interaction. He often chose to role-play superheroes and villains using puppets, expressing frustration, rejection, and power dynamics through storytelling.
Over time, Louise introduced reflective play, gently helping Theo notice patterns in the characters he created and connect them to his real-life experiences. Through art and movement, he explored how big feelings showed up in his body and developed calming strategies using tactile tools.
Theo’s outbursts became less frequent and more manageable. He started to verbalise when he was overwhelmed and learned that “strong doesn’t always mean loud.” His school noted a significant improvement in his self-regulation and peer relationships.
His mum said, “We’d tried everything, parenting books, charts, even medication. But it was play therapy that helped him feel heard without needing to be in trouble first.”
Why Play Therapy Changes Lives
For many children, play is their first language. It gives form to the feelings they can’t yet explain. Through play therapy, they’re given permission to be messy, expressive, imaginative, scared, curious, all the things that make them human.
At Enlightened Minds, play therapy is more than just games. It’s a therapeutic relationship built on trust, respect, and emotional safety. Led by Louise, who brings over two decades of social work and clinical experience, each session is grounded in trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming practice.
Whether a child is grieving, struggling with confidence, navigating autism or ADHD, or just feeling lost, play therapy creates a bridge back to themselves, one block, puppet, or picture at a time.
FAQs
Receiving a diagnosis can be both enlightening and overwhelming, and you may have many questions about what comes next. Our post-diagnostic support sessions are designed to help you navigate this journey with confidence. Below, we’ve answered some of the most common questions to help you understand how these sessions can support you or your loved one.
Play therapy is most commonly used with children aged 3 to 12, although it can also benefit older children depending on their developmental needs. Sessions are always tailored to the child’s communication style and emotional maturity.
Every child is different. Some respond quickly, while others need more time to build trust and explore their emotions. We typically recommend a block of 10 sessions, with regular reviews. Louise will discuss progress with you as appropriate and suggest a plan that best supports your child’s needs.
Sessions are child-led and non-directive, meaning your child chooses what and how to play. Louise provides a safe, structured space with access to art materials, sand trays, toys, puppets, and more. Over time, the child may use metaphor and role play to process emotions and experiences.
While sessions are confidential, general themes or progress may be shared with you during reviews. This helps ensure you feel supported without disrupting the child’s sense of safety or privacy in the therapy space.
Yes. Play therapy is particularly helpful for neurodivergent children who may find traditional talking therapies difficult. It supports emotional expression, social understanding, sensory exploration, and helps build confidence in a non-pressured environment. Louise’s approach is fully neurodiversity-affirming.
We begin with a free 15-minute consultation to talk through your concerns and answer your questions. From there, a more in-depth assessment takes place before regular sessions begin. If play therapy isn’t the right fit, we’ll guide you toward other forms of support.