All play therapists/trainees  working for The Annex Project are registrants on the PTUK voluntary register for Play and creative Arts therapies approved by the PSA

Play/Creative Therapy helps children understand muddled feelings and upsetting events that they haven’t had the chance to sort out properly. Rather than having to explain what is troubling them, children use play to communicate at

their own level and at their own pace, without feeling interrogated or threatened. This approach works really well with children and young people of all ages and helps them to makes sense of their lives.

Play therapy helps children who have difficulties with

  • Anger
  • Aggression
  • Bet wetting/Soiling
  • Nightmares or sleep difficulties
  • Anxiety, stress, withdrawn or isolation
  • Bullies or is bullied
  • Experienced physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
  • Struggles to make or maintain friendships
  • Has heard or seen domestic violence
  • Is adopted or looked after
  • Has experienced loss or bereavement or divorced or separated parents

In Play Therapy we use

  • Art
  • Creative Visualization
  • Sandplay
  • Storytelling
  • Music
  • Dance and Movement
  • Drama
  • Puppets
  • Masks
  • Clay

Throughout the process the therapist will:

  • Develop a warm and friendly relationship with the child/young person
  • Be accepting of the child
  • Be alert to recognise the feelings the child is showing and reflect these feelings back so the child gains insight into his/her behaviour
  • Uphold a deep respect for the child’s ability to solve his/her problems and give them the opportunity to do so.
  • Not attempt to direct the child’s actions or conversations or play, as it is important that the child leads the way and the therapist follows
  • Only set boundaries that are necessary to hold the therapy to the world of reality

Play/Creative Therapy is suitable for everyone from age 3 – 95!

Since December 2012, the Authority has been inviting organisations holding registers of health and care occupations to apply for accreditation. Play Therapy UK participated actively in the consultative process leading up to the definition of the standards and was one of five professional organisations chosen to test the accreditation processes.

The Play Therapy UK Register was formally approved on the 11th April 2013