Hi, I’m Vinity Gill, Child Psychologist (under supervision) specialising in play therapy based in Woodford in the Blue Mountains.
I specialise in child and adolescent mental health issues, and am a certified Play Therapist and certified Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) Practitioner.
 | What is Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT)? |
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| Making sense of the experiential environment |
Child centred play with a qualified Play Therapist is a special time in a special space equipped with purposeful toys for the child to play with. It is the relationship between the therapist and the child which is of paramount importance. The focus of the session is to build trust with the child that he/she is accepted in this play time without any expectation, that the child is allowed to be ‘them’ and not expected to be anybody else.
CCPT works on the principles of Carl Rogers (1902-1987), the psychologist behind the concept of person-centred therapy. Based on Rogers’ initial work, Virginia Axline (1911-1988) developed an approach for child centred play therapy, finding it particularly useful with children aged between 3 and 10 years. Virginia described play as a natural medium that children use as a way to act out their experiential environment. One of Axline’s classic books,
Dibs in Search of Self, exemplifies the emotional and behavioural changes possible in the context of a committed non-directive therapy relationship.
In the time the child spends with me, he is allowed to choose what, when, how and whether to play. The child determines the media of play and the focus of play. In doing so, the child is likely to play out and possibly talk about those aspects of his life that are most real, valid and important to him.
For the time we spend together, the child is seen as a person who is capable of endless possibilities, and in no way a challenge. The child is seen as an individual in the moment of doing things without being evaluated on their past. The child’s feelings are understood through reflection rather than explained through correction. He/she is accepted as a whole individual.
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| | Why would I consider Child Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) for my child? |
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Self-expression is an important part
of play therapy |
CCPT is based on the assumption that the individual has within himself, not only the ability to solve his own problems satisfactorily, but also this growth impulse that makes mature behaviour more satisfying than immature behaviour.
If your child is considered to be challenging, uncooperative or having behavioural issues, sparked by a parental, schooling or professional cause, then the CCPT approach will help your child to feel secure in themselves and through the medium of purposeful toys they are likely to act out or talk about their problems in life that are most real or valid.
The objectives of CCPT are to help the child do several things, such as:
- Develop a more positive self-concept
- Assume greater self-responsibility
- Become more self-directing
- Become more self-accepting
- Become more self-reliant
- Engage in self-determined decision making
- Experience a feeling of self-control
- Become sensitive to the process of coping
- Develop an internal source of evaluation
- Become more trusting of himself.
CCPT is a good tool to support your child's behavioural, emotional and developmental growth.
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| | Who can CCPT help? |
Research has found child centred play therapy to be an effective therapeutic approach for a variety of children's difficulties including:
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One of the many creations that come
out of child centred play therapy |
- Adjusting to family changes such as separation and divorce
- Making friends
- Excessive anger, fear, sadness, worry and shyness
- Aggression and acting out
- School difficulties
- ADD and ADHD
- Abuse and neglect
- Social adjustment issues
- Sleeping and eating difficulties
- Self concept and self esteem
- Trauma
- Grief and loss
- Autism (in cases other than severe autism)
- Chronic illness/hospitalisation
- Physical symptoms without medical cause
- Bonding and attachment issues
- Foster, adoption and identity issues
- Prenatal and birth trauma
- Selective mutism
- Near death experiences
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| | How do I get CCPT and what does it cost? |
At present I provide CCPT upon referral from schools.
The main focus of my work is to conduct assessments via history taking and observation and to provide appropriate advice and recommendations as a result of these assessments, as well as further therapeutic input where appropriate.
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| Parents at a Child Parent Relation Training Program |
I follow a structured format of documentation of a behaviour management plan for children with challenging behavior, which is up to date with government policy and statutory requirements.
I also provide support to parents to learn the same child centred play therapy tools, by providing child-parent relation training.
The costs of my services are:
1. Play Therapy with Children – currently $40-$60 per session, depending on diagnosis, at my clinic, or at a location agreed with the parent.
The structure of the child centred play therapy includes:
- Pre assessment on child behaviour check list (CBCL)
- Parent interview
- Teacher interview
- Monthly review
- One free session of Child Parent Relation Training Program
2. Child Parent Relation Training Program – currently $35 per session per adult for a group of 5-12 adults, at a location mutually decided, plus any hall hire costs, or $30 per session per adult at the Mid Mountains Community Centre in Lawson.
The structure of the training program includes:
- A parent handbook, refreshments, limited child care provided on the day
- One to one counselling for 10 sessions with the therapist at the clinic
- Free follow up session, three months after completion of the course
- One free child centred play therapy session with the child in focus
Medicare and private health fund rebate will be applicable by the end of August, 2012.
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| | Where does CCPT take place? |
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| Vinity running a Child Parent Relation Training session. |
Generally speaking, all sessions take place either at the clinic in the mid Mountains, or at the Mid Mountains Community Centre in Lawson.
If you are interested in considering child centred play therapy for your child, or child-parent relation training, I would love to hear from you.
