HOW UNIQUE COUNSELLING IS HELPING OUR YOUTH
A RECENTLY established centre that specialises in play therapy has revealed how it assists children who have experienced trauma.
Centre For Play Therapy chief executive officer Kylie Ellison founded the organisation in 2016 when she was a one-woman team based in Redlands, Brisbane.
With a dream to offer play therapy in regional and rural Queensland, it has since expanded to Rockhampton, Emerald, Gladstone and recently Toowoomba.
“Part of our strategic plan was reaching the Darling Downs region, to be able to deliver services in areas where there aren’t as many available and we identified Toowoomba as one of those places,” Ms Ellison said.
The centre typically assists children aged between two and 12, but has also helped older children and people living with disabilities and is open to looking at referrals to see if play therapy is suited to the individual’s needs.
Using play therapy strategically, the play therapists help children to open up about traumatic experiences, feelings and work through problems.
With National Child Protection Week running until September 11, Ms Ellison said there was no better time to raise awareness about the support available for children who have experienced trauma.
“Through the research of trauma specifically, we have discovered that play therapy helps children to play out their experiences without having to use words,” she said.
“It provides a symbolic separation for children using resources such as sand, art or role-play, to talk about trauma, without it being too confronting and to do it at their own pace.”
Toowoomba-based play therapist Michelle Hoffman said play therapy had also proven to be successful for children who are non-verbal, to communicate.
“All our toys in the playroom have a purpose for a child to be able to express what they need to express,” Ms Hoffman said.
“Sometimes it can take a lot of time for them to build that trust and work with me, but to see that progress and provide a safe space for them, it really is a privilege,” Ms Hoffman said.