Wonders of Play
Children oftentimes have difficulty expressing their thoughts and their experiences using words. Play is the natural language of children. Children can use the toys, art materials and other things in the playroom as their words to express themselves.
What is Play Therapy?
Play Therapy is a well- established therapeutic approach for children. It enables children to work out issues, conflicts and concerns using the non- threatening medium of play.
In a child- centered play therapy, the therapist help children to work through different emotional, psychosical, developmental, and behavioural issues and family problems.
How Does it Work?
Toys and other play materials are carefully selected for children and placed in safe and child- friendly playroom.
Using a non- directive therapy approach, children lead the therapist in exploring their inner world. Initially, play assessment is done to explore and identify the issues and concerns of the children.
During the therapeutic process, the children select the toys they want to play with. The therapist joins the direction of child’s play through the child’s invitation. In certain instances, limits are placed to children in a respectful and empathetic way to facilitate the therapeutic process. Using play therapy, children are encouraged to make responsible choices.
Roles of Parents and Careers
Parents and carers of children has an important role in the process of play therapy. During the play assessment period, regular scheduled meetings and conferences are done to communicate feedback and provide necessary recommendations. During play therapy, meetings are also scheduled to discuss the developments in therapy and coordinate practical recommendations to be taken at home or school.
PROCEDURE
Step 1: Schedule An Appointment
Contact us to schedule an appointment to discuss your concerns and request for play therapy procedure for your child through our mobile number: +63917-7096961 or e-mail address: info@graymattersphilippines.com. You may request any of our psychologist see you for your therapy The list of our psychologists and their qualifications and professional background are listed here. If you are having trouble choosing from our list, just inform us and we will assist you in choosing a psychologist that is best suited to address your concerns based on their expertise and your preferred schedule.
On the day of your appointment…
Step 2: Read and Sign our Informed Consent Form
The informed consent form is an agreement between you and our clinic to protect the rights of both parties. Included in the informed consent form are the services you will be receiving, payment/ fees, privacy and confidentiality issues, possible collaboration with other professionals and family members, your permission to us to gather information, and how this information will be used.
Step 3: Intake
- Answer our Background Information Form which contains questions about basic personal details of your child.
- Interview with the Psychologist. Our psychologist would talk to you and your child about information relevant to your child’s present psychological concerns. Our psychologists will ask you question to obtain a comprehensive understanding of your child’s problems and determine the best way we can offer help.
Step 3: Session 2- Therapeutic Management Plan
Your psychologist will discuss your child’s therapeutic management plan which is based on your psychologist’s initial assessment of the problems and your mutually agreed goals in the therapy.
Step 4: Therapy Sessions
Succeeding sessions of therapy will be conducted by your psychologists. During each session, your psychologist will work with your child using play techniques to explore your child’s conflicts/ problems, process difficult emotions, and make sense of distressing aspects of your life using established psychological principles. Family conferences and collaborative meetings will also be done to facilitate therapy progress.
Step 5: Termination
Termination of therapy happens when clients already achieved their therapeutic goal. Termination is based on the therapist’s evaluation of success of therapy (through progress notes) or other inevitable circumstances (e.g. problem in client’s compliance, therapist and client fit etc.). In such cases, our psychologists will gradually prepare you for termination. You will be informed of this at least 2 sessions prior to the termination of your therapy session.
Step 6: Follow- up sessions (optional)
Follow- up sessions may be scheduled to check for progress and any concerns that may arise following the termination of the therapy.
FAQs
- How long does a play therapy procedure take?
The intake session for therapy approximately takes 2 hours. The length of intake depends on the nature of the problem of the client and the information needed by our psychologist. The succeeding therapy session ranges from 1 hour to 1.5 hour.
- Do I need to have a psychological evaluation before psychotherapy?
Our psychologist will make a brief assessment during the intake whether you need to undergo psychological evaluation or you can go straight to therapy. In most cases, our psychologists can already adequately assess the problem during the intake. If this happens, you can already be scheduled for subsequent therapy. Otherwise, your psychologist will inform you of your need for psychological evaluation prior to therapy session.
- Can I request my psychologist for a report regarding my therapy?
Your therapist will provide you oral feedback and progress report after several sessions of your therapy.
- Will anyone else know that I’m seeking therapy?
Your psychotherapy sessions are treated with utmost confidentiality. We are bounded by the confidentiality agreement with you. We can only inform other people (e.g. family members, collaborating medical professionals, etc.) about specific aspect of your therapy ONLY if you give a written consent. Aside from this, we are obliged to release these information to the court ONLY if we receive a written court order for the release of such information.
- How much is the psychotherapy procedure?
You may inquire about our official rates for psychological assessment by calling or sending a message to us in our contact number.
If you wish to avail of our psychotherapy or if you know someone who needs psychotherapy, you may contact our center using our contact page:
You may ask our psychologist any question or schedule an appointment with us.