I2WE

17/01/2026

Play is 🚫 not "just play"....

▶️

Anna Freud’s words sit at the very heart of play therapy practice.

Children do not always have the language to explain what they feel or why they behave as they do. Instead, their inner world often shows itself through play; in stories, symbols, roles and repetition. Within this play, the unconscious gently finds a voice.

In play therapy, we understand play as a bridge to the unconscious. It is where fears can be expressed safely, wishes can be explored without judgement and experiences can be worked through at the child’s own pace. What may feel confusing or overwhelming internally can be communicated, processed and transformed through play.

By attuning to a child’s play, the play therapist offers containment, curiosity and emotional safety, allowing the unconscious material to emerge naturally rather than be forced into words. This is where healing begins, not by asking children to explain themselves, but by meeting them where they are.

Play is not “just play”.

It is communication, insight and deep emotional work in action.

16/01/2026

Virtual group opportunity! 🎈

15/01/2026

A great article on the importance of focusing on early childhood development, despite the spotlight on matric marks, by Ishrene Davids - Director of Ikamva Labantu. Published in the Daily Maverick, the full article can be viewed here: https://shorturl.at/Yu6lt

13/01/2026

Thinking of all the little ones, AND the not-so-little ones (and their parents) with the start of the new school year. 🎈

13/01/2026

06/01/2026

Axline believed that children, when offered a safe, accepting and permissive therapeutic space, naturally move towards healing and growth. Her non-directive, child-centred approach gave children permission to communicate their inner world through play – their most natural language – rather than words alone.

Her core principles still sit at the heart of ethical Play Therapy practice today:

🧸 Unconditional positive regard
🧸 Deep respect for the child’s autonomy
🧸 Trust in the child’s innate capacity to heal
🧸 Play as meaningful communication, not “just play”

At British Association of Play Therapists (BAPT), these principles continue to guide evidence-based, trauma-informed practice that supports children to process experiences, build emotional resilience, and develop a stronger sense of self – at their own pace, in their own way.

Axline reminded us that “the child leads, the therapist follows” – a philosophy that remains as powerful and relevant today as it was when she first articulated it.

💚 Play is not an extra.
💚 Play is not a reward.
💚 Play is the work.

06/01/2026

When you believe in them, they learn to believe in themselves.💚