Zoe O’Connor, Healing Hearts Play Therapy

Personal Me

I have a partner and I am a mummy to three beautiful children, one is school age and my two boys are very young.

When working with you and your child, i can empathise with you and I do not judge, I provide a listening ear. I know how hard parenting can be and i am hear with you through the play therapy process. I like to provide support to parents just as much as i do to the children i see. building relationships with the parents and children creates a holistic presence.

What is Play Therapy?

Play Therapy is form of Psychotherapy, mainly used to help children ages 3 to 12, explore their worlds and freely express repressed thoughts and emotions through play. Play Therapy usually takes place in a safe, comfortable playroom where very few rules or limits are imposed on the child. By encouraging free expression, this allows the therapist to notice the child’s choices, decisions, and play style. The aim is to help children to express themselves in healthier ways by, using language to describe their feelings, discover new ways to solve problems and become more empathetic and respectful.

When is Play Therapy used?

Play Therapy helps children with social or emotional difficulties develop problem-solving skills, communicate better, change their behavior and relate to others in positive ways. Children who have experienced childhood trauma and stressful situations in their lives such as, domestic violence, abuse, trauma, a family crisis, a serious illness or hospitalization, or a change in their environment should access see a Play Therapist. Play therapy can help children with behavioral disorders, anxiety, academic and social problems, learning disabilities, depression, grief, or anger, as well as those with attention deficit disorders or who are on the autism spectrum.

What happens next?

During the Play Therapy process the parent plays an important role. After referral is made by school or parent, the Play Therapist meets with the parent for an initial interview, where they collect background information surrounding the child. The therapist will also meet with the child for a initial session before therapy begins. The Play Therapist will make an initial assessment and repeat this at the end of the treatment. When children attend Play Therapy they are encouraged to play with certain therapeutic toys, which elicit self-expression and enable children to learn positive behaviors. These include, arts and crafts, music, dancing, therapeutic stories, clay, puppets and sand tray etc. Play Therapy usually lasts for an average of 12-20

session’s this can be different for every child, depends on their referral reasons. Sessions last between 30 to 45 minutes each week depending on age.