Important message about our Play Therapy service.
We are thrilled to announce that, following a period of closure, we are now able to receive referrals for Play Therapy. Many thanks to our funders for making this possible!
Play Therapy
Play Therapy can help primary-aged children in a variety of ways. In Play Therapy, children have a large selection of play materials to choose from. This might include art and craft materials, sand and water, clay, small figures and animals, puppets and books etc. The Play Therapist encourages the child to use these materials to express themselves without having to use verbal communication. They don’t have to speak or answer questions.
This non-directive support helps them to understand more about their own feelings and thoughts. Sometimes they may re-enact or play out difficult or traumatic life experiences in order to make sense of things in their past and cope better with their future. Children may also learn to manage relationships and conflict in more appropriate ways.
Before the sessions start, the Play Therapist will meet with the parent/care-giver in order to determine together whether Play Therapy is the right approach for the child. They also answer any questions the parent/care-giver may have, including how they can prepare their child to come along to Play Therapy, and support them through the process. Please note that, except where we have safety concerns, the child’s session is confidential to them. The Play Therapist will check in with the parent/care-giver regularly, to support, discuss progress, and share observations, but specific content is not shared, and can form no part of any legal or mediation proceedings.
Avenue’s Play Therapists have a qualification in Play Therapy that is recognised by PT-UK (the Play Therapy regulatory body) and they all the work within PT-UK ethical frameworks . Our Play Therapists all have enhanced disclosure/PVG checks, adhere to Avenue’s safeguarding and child protection policy, and participate in regular clinical supervision.
Sessions
Sessions are 50 minutes long and take place weekly, face-to-face at our base in Aberdeen.
How many sessions your child will need will depend on their particular circumstances, but we typically start with the expectation that you will have 12 sessions. We can review this with you as the play therapy progresses.
Cost
Play Therapy is free for primary-aged children who live in Aberdeen or Aberdeenshire.
We ask that you consider making a donation to our work. Avenue is a charity and we work hard to make sure that anyone who needs our support can access our services. Any donation you can make will help us to ensure that we can get help to the people who need it most.
Please be aware that we can only offer Play Therapy to children who live in Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire or Moray, and as this is a face-to-face only service it can only currently be delivered in Aberdeen.
We are able to offer free Play Therapy thanks to the support of a range of funders, including: Aberdeen City Health and Social Care Partnership, Aberdeenshire Council, John Gordon’s Charitable Fund, RS MacDonald Trust and the Scottish Government.
If you would like more information, or would like to refer yourself or someone you know to Play Therapy, please call our Service Administration team on 01224 587571, or email us
Our online referral forms can be completed here
Self Referral
Professional Referral
