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Lotus Play Therapy

Play and Creative Arts Therapy

Educational and Creative Workshops

Parent Support Consultations

Located in Cranbrook Kent

Victoria Hunter BSc (Hons), MSc, PG Dip PTUK

Contact lotusplaytherapy@gmail.com                Telephone 07817537998

Services Provided

Play Therapy within some local School Settings and Lotus Play Therapy Studios - Cranbrook, Kent

Group Play Therapy with a maximum of 5 children. Groups focus on

  • Confidence and Self esteem

  • Anxiety and worries

  • Loss/bereavement

  • Wellbeing and mindfulness

Parent/Carer Support consultations Do you have concerns about your child's mental health? This is a space without judgement to explore your concerns. Whether about behaviour, emotions, regulation strategies, anger, anxiety, strategies, communication and relational connection. This can be a one off or a more regular arrangement, either online or face to face.

Parent and Child Attachment Play (PCAP) sessions for parents and caregivers. This is a proven programme for strengthening parent-child relationships based on the latest attachment research.  The sessions involve sharing skills around  child led play, communication and creating physical and emotional safety for the child, working towards a special 'you and me' play time at home where these skills are applied.

Do in get touch to find out more. 

What is Play Therapy?

Children can find it difficult to express and make sense of their world through words,  therefore through facilitating alternative playful and creative methods to communicate, children are able to share their stories, thoughts and feelings through their natural medium of play. The therapist meets the child on their level, building a relationship based on trust, safety and acceptance. By gaining an insight into the child's experience, the therapist reflects what is seen, heard and felt in order for the child to gain a deeper understanding of themselves and their emotions and and what they may be finding difficult. This can lead to the reworking of negative patterns that may have developed and help with building healthier relationships, building confidence and self-esteem, reduce worries, develop coping strategies, improve behaviour and communication, develop social skills, enhance problem solving, and heal from trauma.

I use an Integrative Holistic model of Play Therapy; validated by the PTUK clinical evidence base, with the foundation of my work based in a child-centred humanistic approach. The model integrates the therapeutic use of a wide range of creative arts media, including arts, crafts, clay, puppets, sand, minatures, musical instruments, therapeutic stories, creative visualisation, movement, games and role play.  I work with the unconscious and conscious processes, using non-directive and directive approaches. The sessions are largely child led, fostering a deep level of attunement to the child's experiences. 

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1993 Byron Norton

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Stages of Play Therapy

Every child is unique and their play therapy journey will vary, but this model can be a helpful guide to understanding the play therapy process. 12 sessions are recommended as a minimum, but the whole process often takes between 20 and 30 sessions.

 

Initiation/exploratory stage

The first phase of play therapy is commonly referred to as the initiation phase or exploratory stage.  This lays the foundation for therapeutic work to occur. The sessions are important in building a trusting relationship and fostering an environment of safety so that the child feels able to express themselves. Children learn what to expect in the sessions, learn the boundaries, develop a bond with their therapist and become familiar with the space, techniques and tools available to them. The therapist will empower the child to initiate and lead play, and create an experience of permissiveness in the playroom, where limits are set only when necessary to avoid injury to themselves, the therapist, damage to property or to prevent overwhelm.

Some children instantly feel comfortable from the start, others will take more time to adjust to their surroundings and build trust. Patience and respecting the child’s pace is important. Parent’s maybe invited to join for some of the initial sessions to support the child to feel more secure.

Once your child feels comfortable expressing themselves, understands their role in the process, and has developed the security required for further therapeutic work, they move into the next stage of play therapy.

 

Resistance Stage
The next stage is referred to as the resistance phase, aggressive stage, or negative reaction stage. These names represent the shift from the comfortable to the uncomfortable. The underlying issues that are causing the behavioural  difficulties become more present. Children are confronted with the recognition of their difficulties, and they decide to confront this challenge or to keep fighting against it because it’s scary and unfamiliar.   This is where you might experience some resistance to therapy, the child may exhibit more emotional outbursts at home and/or in the playroom, desire more control, and regress in their behaviour. When the child recognises their capacity to process and experience their difficulty they move onto the next stage.

 

Growth Stage

This stage is where the child is fully invested in the process and working hard to address the struggles and difficulties in the playroom. They are stepping out their comfort zone and making changes. The child is healing and growing and making progress in areas of concern, and developing skills in self-regulation, resilience and coping skills. The occasional step back may occur, new behavioural patterns and neural pathways are developing, there may be times when old patterns temporarily creep back in.


Termination Stage

This is the final stage of therapy centred around the ending of therapy. The child is consistently demonstrating their new skills, and is settled in various environments. This is a necessary stage so that the child feels equipped and prepared to continue without therapy and the therapeutic relationship. It is also an important opportunity to experience a positive and healthy ending, particularly when they have negative associations with goodbyes. The child and therapist reflect on the progress made and experiences shared together, and the final session will be marked with a celebration in a form comfortable to the child. Although a positive time, it is important to be mindful that this can also be experienced as difficult time for the child.


Lotus Play Therapy Studio Open in Cranbrook, Kent

Professional Security

Victoria has public liability insurance, enhanced DBS check, data protection policies and abides by child protection policy and procedures. Victoria is on the PTUK Register of Play and Creative Arts Therapists that has been accredited by the Professional Standards Authority.
https://playtherapyregister.org.uk/
As a member of PTUK Victoria is bound by its ethical framework and guidelines for good practice. Safeguarding, data protection and health and safety policies available upon request.

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