British Play Therapy Week started on 18th November 2024.
Welcome to British Play Therapy Week, an exciting time when we come together to celebrate the profound impact of play therapy on the well-being of children and young people. This week will lead up to BAPT’s Annual Conference where we will hear from exceptional keynote speakers who are experts in the field of Play Therapy and who will share their insights, knowledge, research and techniques.
This week is an opportunity to acknowledge the invaluable role that play therapy plays in promoting mental health, nurturing creativity, and facilitating healing in young minds. Join us in honouring the power of play as a therapeutic tool, and let’s continue our mission to make a positive difference in the lives of children and young people.
Look out for our social media posts promoting British Play Therapy Week and please join in by sharing the amazing work that BAPT Registered Play Therapists® do.
In the play therapy space, the therapist-client relationship is a meeting of energies that creates a unique field for healing and expression. When these energies come together, they form an intuitive, embodied dialogue—a dynamic space where non-verbal communication flows and emotions held within the child can emerge. In this process, the play space acts as a sensory bridge between inner experience and outward expression, where sight, sound, touch and movement all serve as channels for understanding and connection.
Through this energy exchange, the therapist can observe and attune to feelings the child may not yet have words for, allowing for a gentle unveiling of what’s held within the child’s body and psyche. This sensory, energetic interaction becomes a powerful way for children to access and process their emotions safely and to begin the journey toward self-understanding and healing.
In Play Therapy, the therapist’s tone of voice, facial expression and body language are indeed as critical as the words they use, if not more so. These non-verbal cues convey safety, empathy and acceptance, which are essential in creating a supportive therapeutic environment.
Together, these non-verbal cues reinforce the therapeutic alliance by communicating acceptance and understanding. For children, who are often more attuned to non-verbal communication, these subtle signals can speak volumes, helping them to feel safe, valued and heard. In essence, the therapist’s presence, as conveyed through tone, expression and body language, becomes a powerful, nurturing force within the play therapy process, supporting the child’s healing journey in ways words alone cannot.
A powerful metaphor, capturing the essence of therapeutic relationships. In play therapy, just like in chemistry, two unique “substances” come together and if they genuinely connect, both are changed in the process. The therapeutic relationship isn’t one-sided; while the play therapist provides support and empathy, they too, are affected and enriched by each child’s courage, resilience, and story.
This mutual transformation is part of what makes play therapy such a dynamic, deeply human process—where both participants, play therapist and child alike, experience growth and evolution.
