Play Therapy
Play therapy can help children express their feelings and navigate challenges in a safe, supportive environment. Our play therapists use techniques such as symbolic play, creative arts, storytelling, and role-playing, tailored to each child’s unique needs. Play therapy effectively supports children facing trauma, anxiety, or behavioral issues, enhancing their social skills, self-esteem, and coping mechanisms. We are dedicated to empowering your child’s emotional resilience and healthy development, ensuring they have the tools to thrive through the universal language of play. Sessions can be delivered in English, Cantonese, or Mandarin.
As pretend play skills strengthen, children often show growth in:
- Language and communication
- Emotional understanding and expression
- Social interaction and peer relationships
- Flexible thinking and problem-solving
Learn to Play Therapy can be particularly beneficial for children with:
- Developmental delays
- Learning difficulties
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Down syndrome
- Neurological conditions
- Social communication challenges
The overall goal is to help children use play more confidently and meaningfully, supporting their development, learning readiness, and ability to connect with others.
Learn-to-Play Therapy
Learn to Play Therapy is a play-based, evidence-informed intervention that supports children in developing their pretend play skills — an ability that is closely linked to social, emotional, language, and cognitive development.
Research shows that imaginative play strengthens problem-solving, flexible thinking, logical sequencing, and social understanding. As children develop symbolic play skills, they become better able to understand their peers, participate socially, and support their emotional wellbeing.
Some children may find it difficult to engage in imaginative or story-based play. Learn to Play Therapy helps children build these skills step by step in a supportive and engaging environment.
During LTP sessions, the therapist gently joins the child’s play, modelling and extending ideas to encourage imagination, role-taking, and story creation. Through this guided approach, children learn how to plan play sequences, act out roles, and share ideas with others.
Humanistic Play Therapy
Humanistic Play Therapy is an evidence-based counselling approach designed especially for children aged 3 to 12 years. While adults express their thoughts and feelings through words, children use play as their natural language — toys become their words, and play becomes their way of communicating.
This child-centred approach allows children to lead the play, express what they are feeling inside, explore experiences that may be confusing or upsetting, and discover new ways of coping and relating to others.
The play therapist provides a safe, accepting, and consistent environment where the child can freely express themselves. Through play, the therapist attunes to the child’s emotional world, reflects their experiences, and supports them in finding their own solutions and inner strengths.
Humanistic play therapy is grounded in the belief that every child has an innate capacity for growth and healing when met with empathy, respect, and understanding. Through the play therapy journey, children develop emotional regulation, confidence, and healthier relationships over time.”
Filial Therapy
Filial Therapy is a family-centred, evidence-based approach that strengthens the relationship between children and their parents or caregivers through the power of play.
Originally developed to support children experiencing social, emotional, and behavioural challenges, Filial Therapy can also be used as a preventive approach. It actively involves parents or caregivers as therapeutic partners in their child’s healing process, empowering families to build more harmonious and supportive relationships.
Filial Therapy consists of two key components: parents training sessions and play sessions conducted at home or therapy centre. During structured training, parents learn child-centred play therapy skills such as:
- Empathic listening and emotional reflection
- Therapeutic limit setting
- Imaginary play
Throughout the program, parents learn and practise therapeutic play skills through therapist demonstrations, role-plays, and guided discussions. After completing the training stage, they begin conducting weekly special play sessions with their child. These sessions are reviewed with the therapist during supervision meetings, providing ongoing guidance and feedback.
This continued support helps parents reflect on their child’s needs, strengthen their skills, and deepen their understanding of both their child’s emotions and their own responses.
Filial Therapy can be delivered in parent groups or with individual families to meet their unique needs.
Grounded in the belief that strong parent–child relationships are the foundation of emotional wellbeing, research shows that Filial Therapy supports:
- Improved parent–child attachment and communication
- Increased parenting confidence and empathy
- Better emotional regulation in children
- Reduced behavioural difficulties
- Healthier family relationships overall
FAQ Play Therapy
What is play therapy?
Play therapy uses play, stories, and creative activities to help children express feelings, build confidence, and develop emotional and social skills. It’s especially helpful for children who find talking difficult. It feels safe, gentle, and child-led.
Does my child need a diagnosis to join play therapy?
No — play therapy is for any child who needs emotional or behavioural support. You can self-refer anytime.
Is play therapy offered in Cantonese or Mandarin?
Yes. Many children in Blackburn, Box Hill and Doncaster prefer Cantonese (廣東話) or Mandarin (普通話). We communicate in the language your child is most comfortable in.
Can I sit in during play therapy?
For the first session, yes. After that, the therapist may guide you based on what helps your child feel safe and open. We always update parents after each session.
Is play therapy covered by Medicare?
Not at this stage. Play therapy is not eligible for Medicare rebates, but NDIS (self-managed/plan-managed) may be used.
We hope these FAQs help clarify our services and put your mind at ease. Our team at Blackburn Speech & Paediatric Therapy is here to support your child and family in every step, whether you’re navigating gross and fine motor development or understanding sensory needs, whether it’s in our clinic or at your home in Blackburn, Box Hill, or surrounding areas. Feel free to reach out if you have any more questions – no question is too small. We’re here to help!
Our Play Therapist team is here to support you. Check out Our Team!
Our bilingual play therapy service gives children a safe, expressive space to explore feelings, build relationships and grow resilience. Through storytelling, creative arts and symbolic play (in English, Cantonese or Mandarin) we help children from preschool to early teens in Blackburn and surrounds to navigate anxiety, trauma, behavioural or developmental challenges—empowering them to build their voice and strength.