Play Therapist

The Play Therapist is a member of the inpatient rehabilitation team. The role of the play therapist is to use play activities to encourage the child/young person to express their emotions, construct an understanding of their world and grow in all areas of development.

The Play Therapist uses imaginative and flexible techniques to provide children/young people with information and a sense of the familiar. This helps to relieve anxiety and increase their autonomy and ability to cope with a stay in hospital. It is a family centred approach where the Play Therapist is able to build a supportive relationship with the child/young person and their family in order to assist the children/young people in their understanding, self expression and socialisation.

Children/young people in rehabilitation need to be able to have fun and feel motivated to participate in all areas of required therapy. The children/young people have the opportunity to participate in creative and expressive play, relaxation, distraction and pain management experiences, medical play and peer interaction groups.