"Toys are children's words
&
play is their language"
Gary L.Landreth
Welcome to Still Waters Play Therapy
This website is under construction
At Still Waters Play Therapy, located in Tattershall, United Kingdom, we offer a safe and nurturing environment for children to explore their emotions and experiences through the power of play. We are committed to providing high-quality, compassionate therapy services to support your child's emotional well-being. Discover how we can help your child navigate life's challenges and find their inner calm.
What is play therapy?
who is play therapy for?
Play Therapy is a helpful way to support children over four. It works well because it can be tailored to each child’s needs. Children who have trouble with their emotions or behaviour, especially if it affects daily life, can be referred. This includes children who.
-
- Are going through changes at home, such as parents separating.
- Struggle with anxiety, low self-esteem, or stress
- Have experienced a loss or bereavement
- Are withdrawn or continually unhappy
- Have a long-term illness
- May find it hard to cope with a disability
- Struggle socially
- Have nightmares or disturbed sleep
- Are adopted, fostered, or are going through this process
- Have experienced trauma or abuse
- Are at risk of being/ are excluded from school
- Are young carers
What are the Benefits?
- Play Therapy helps in many ways, based on each child’s needs. Some children feel more confident or less anxious. Others change their behaviour or get along better with family and friends. As children improve, parents and referrers often notice they are happier.
- Get extra emotional support and experience a steady therapeutic relationship in which their thoughts and feelings are central.
- Have the freedom to explore and express their feelings and experiences in ways that suit them.
- Can process and work through feelings that may have affected their behaviour at school and at home.
- May act out difficult life experiences.
- May help to make sense of their past and cope with the future.
- May learn to express their feelings in healthy ways.
- Have the chance to be in control, make choices, and take responsibility.
- Can boost self-esteem and confidence.
- May learn to handle relationships and conflicts more effectively.
What happens?
- During therapy, clear boundaries guide the child in caring for themselves, the therapist, and the space. These boundaries help create freedom to play in their own way. When children feel secure, they often express their feelings and experiences through play. Sometimes, they act out events to better understand and cope with them. The therapist participates in their play, follows their lead, and helps them make sense of their experiences. Rather than asking many questions or judging, the therapist respects each child’s unique journey. In this safe environment, children share feelings, build resilience, and find ways to cope with challenges.
- After understanding the therapy process, many ask, how effective is Play Therapy?
-
- We use the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) before and after therapy to assess the child's progress. We also ask for feedback from staff, parents or carers, and the children themselves. After therapy, about 80% of children show positive changes. For instance, one child, who was once anxious and withdrawn, found confidence through play, gradually engaging more with peers and participating in school activities. Each year, we share reports to show how Play Therapy is making a difference.
- and support for parents to better understand their child's emotional needs and develop effective parenting strategies. We work collaboratively with families to create a cohesive and supportive home environment.
Does it work?
- Studies indicate that 1 in 5 of our children have some form of psychological problem. The good news is that between 72% and 83% of these children show a positive change as a result of play therapy delivered to PTUK standards, the more severe the problems, the higher the percentage of positive change. workshops designed to equip children and parents with practical tools and techniques for managing emotions, building resilience, and enhancing overall well-being.
- The assessment is straight forward, and will be totally confidential, it involves completing a simple questionnaire which will take you 10 – 15 minutes to complete. The Therapist will then score this, discuss the results, and outline the suggested way forward. You would not normally take your child with you to this assessment session. In this initial session, the therapist will also discuss any other relevant matters or questions that you wish to ask. Before therapy starts, you will be invited to bring your child to an introductory session where he/she can see the therapy playroom and all the exciting toys, objects, and materials it contains.
- The Therapist will explain the simple rules:
- “When you’re here, you can do whatever you like, unless you are likely to hurt yourself, hurt me or damage the things in the room.”
- “I will not tell anyone about what you say or do unless I think that someone is hurting you.”
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri: 9am - 5pm