Welcome to In Bloom Play Therapy - Providing creative and therapeutic support for children across Bedford and the surrounding area.
What is Play Therapy?
Play therapy is a form of creative psychotherapy where play is used to help children to process and communicate their feelings. During play therapy, the child or young person can explore and process anxiety, stresses and traumatic experiences using symbolic and imaginative play within a safe space.
What will the session look like?
Each session lasts for about 45 minutes and sessions usually take place once a week at the same time and in the same room. This consistency helps to build a sense of safety and trust for the child. The play is child-centred allowing the child to lead in the session and is free to choose activities and resources including art, clay and sand without having to provide verbal explanations. During the session they have the opportunity to express deeper thoughts and ideas which will allow me to get a valuable insight into how they experience their world.
Where will the sessions take place?
Sessions take place in the child's school, fitting around the school timetable. Play Therapy in school is effective as it is a safe and familiar environment, this can help to provide consistency and reliability. It also provides an opportunity for a therapist to work collaboratively with school staff as well as parents.
Who could benefit from Play Therapy?
Play therapy provides a gentle, effective way to help children through many different stages of life and emotional challenges including -
- Anxieties and worries
- Low self esteem
- Loss or bereavement
- Parental separation or divorce
- Experience of trauma or neglect
- Aggression
- Abuse (Emotional, Physical, Sexual, Neglect)
- Domestic abuse
- Poor school attendance
- Lack of confidence
- Behaviour problems
- Attachment issues
- ADHD and ASD
- Sensory processing