Please take a look at these suggestions for how you can facilitate your child having successful therapeutic play sessions:
*Before the first session, tell your child they are going to visit “Norma” to “talk about whatever you want to talk about”. You might say, “I have noticed you have some problems with ____, and Norma is someone who can help.”
*Prepare your child for each session by ensuring they have had enough to eat before hand, are not sleepy, have used the restroom facilities, etc.
*Your child should leave personal toys, games, videos at home as they won’t need them in the playroom.
*We use a number of “messy” media in the playroom so please dress your child in clothes that would be hardy enough for these play tasks.
*We don’t want your child having that “grown-ups are talking about me” feeling. We will have parent consults at least every three to four sessions to talk about our concerns.
*After each session, please do not ask your child questions such as,“So did you have fun?” or “What did you do?” This would be like asking an adult client, “So what did you talk about?” Often children say, “we just played” which is true! It would be the same as an adult replying, “We just talked”.
*Please remain in the waiting room until your child’s session is completed.
I hope this helps and I look forward to working with you and your child. This is an opportunity to help a young person feel more inner calm, healthy control, self-direction, self-monitoring, and release of tension and emotion related to his/her concerns.