Play is a child’s natural means of expression and under the guidance of a qualified therapist is an effective way of helping children recover from difficult life experiences. Play can also be a powerful tool in strengthening family relationships and a way of helping the bonds of attachment develop between child and parent/carer. 

We at Butterfly Child Therapies can offer a variety of therapies, assessing which would be the best one to offer for each child/family. We are experienced practitioners in Play Therapy, EMDR, Theraplay and Filial Therapy, and work with individual children and/or families, or groups depending upon requirements.

The different techniques or ‘tool set’ used when working with children include: play, storytelling, music, dance and movement, drama, painting, sand tray work, clay and creative visualization. These are used according to the child’s wishes and the skills of the therapist.

Who can benefit from these therapies?

Any young person

who is fostered or adopted

who has suffered trauma

who has suffered emotional, physical and sexual abuse

who has experienced loss through bereavement, family breakdown, or separation from their original cultural background

who is ill or disabled themselves, or who have carers or siblings in this position

who bullies other children or is  bullied themselves

who suffers from anxiety, stress or phobias

who finds it difficult to make friends and/or quarrels with peers or siblings

who has low self-esteem/lack of self-confidence

who is at risk of being excluded from school or is not realizing their full potential – academically or socially

who is withdrawn and non-communicative

We may use a range of therapeutic approaches depending upon our initial assessment. Should you require any more information of these approaches please refer to our website or informative websites listed at the back of this brochure. 

These different therapy approaches cannot change what has happened to a child, but they can help change their view of the experience. Carefully guided therapy using a variety of techniques can create a non-pressured environment in which the young person can explore and assess their own feelings.