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The Power of Play: Insights from a Play Therapist

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Sam

Toys and Play

Who Is Sarah?

Sarah is an Accredited Social Worker, currently working in the capacity of a SW with a regional hospital, as well as PT Private Practice. Specialising in Child Centred Play Therapy, Filial Therapy, Circle of Security program facilitation, AutPlay and EMDR. Sarah has worked in Out of Home Care, community youth & family organisations, and managed youth programs focusing on supporting young people, families, and education engagement.  Clinical experience includes Specialist Behaviour Support, child and adolescent mental health and developmental trauma. Sarah owns, Connect to Thrive, where therapeutic interventions are grounded in attachment theory, neuroscience, and interpersonal neurobiology.

Episode Summary

  • Sarah shares a little about her background and the range of community areas that she has worked in. We also discuss the brokenness of the foster care system.
  • For those who are unaware, Sarah explains what Child-Centred Play Therapy is and the different components.
  • Sarah shares the core component of Child-Centred Play Therapy, and why the therapeutic relationships is still key.
  • We explore what Filial Therapy is, and why bringing parents into the therapy space can be beneficial.
  • I ask Sarah if there is an age where play becomes redundant, and why the answer if no.
  • We explore why a cognitive approach is not always best, and how accessing an expressive and somatic approach is increasingly helpful.
  • Sarah shares about some of the common presentations that the children she works with come into the room with.
  • We explore the way that Play Therapy benefits the Neurodivergent community, particularly those who communicate differently.
  • I ask Sarah what it is like during a Play Therapy session and the different stages of therapy.
  • Sarah explains why play at home is different to play therapy and the way the child is engaged in play.
  • We discuss the difference in individual and group play therapy, and where a directive approach would be used.
  • Sarah shares some of the tools in her Play Therapy room and how some of them are used by a child.
  • And finally, Sarah smashes a myth around Play Therapy and explores some misconceptions.