Page 3 | I’m a Play Therapist AMA

Original poster

Playdy · 21/12/2025 07:55

BessieSurtees · 20/12/2025 23:09

Do you find that some social and emotional issues that children are experiencing are being medicalised when actually play therapy would be more beneficial than seeking diagnosis and could be a quicker intervention? Does play therapy work for trauma?

I ask as a professional working with children who have social and emotional needs.

Absolutely play therapy is for children experiencing trauma. Trauma of any kind. It’s a fantastic intervention to support children struggling with social and emotional needs with or without a medical diagnosis.

However play therapy is not a solution. In the same way counselling won’t solve all your problems. Play therapy provides a space to work through and process trauma and in the majority of cases is proven to improve emotional behaviour and emotional literacy. So for some children it will be enough but if there is a man underlying medical need that will remain present for the child.

OP posts:

Itsjusttoomuchtoday · 21/12/2025 07:59

@Playdy If you are still around I could really do with some advice please. I have a 9 year old in autistic burn out at some point she will need therapy to deal school trauma and the experience of burm out. How will I know when she has come out of burn out
enough to deal with therapy. Sorry, this is a very specific question.

Original poster

Playdy · 21/12/2025 08:47

Itsjusttoomuchtoday · 21/12/2025 07:59

@Playdy If you are still around I could really do with some advice please. I have a 9 year old in autistic burn out at some point she will need therapy to deal school trauma and the experience of burm out. How will I know when she has come out of burn out
enough to deal with therapy. Sorry, this is a very specific question.

Renewed energy, motivation, a more positive outlook and a return to more ‘normal’ functioning (whatever that looks like for your child) are all signs burnout is over. However I do wonder why you’d wait and perhaps suggest that therapy would support that process of burnout recovery. Play therapy is child led and low demand therefore ideal for children in the thick of post traumatic stress situations. Just make sure you find a PTUK or BAPT therapist. (You can google this).

OP posts:

Itsjusttoomuchtoday · 21/12/2025 09:42

Playdy · 21/12/2025 08:47

Renewed energy, motivation, a more positive outlook and a return to more ‘normal’ functioning (whatever that looks like for your child) are all signs burnout is over. However I do wonder why you’d wait and perhaps suggest that therapy would support that process of burnout recovery. Play therapy is child led and low demand therefore ideal for children in the thick of post traumatic stress situations. Just make sure you find a PTUK or BAPT therapist. (You can google this).

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Thank you so much. At the moment she can’t cope with many demands, brushing her teeth twice a day, bathing every other day, washing hair once a week and bedtime is where we’re at in terms of demands. She is really only managing to get dressed andleave the house once a week to go to Cubs. She was working with a support worker who specialises in austism to learn about what what it means to be autistic but for the last few months she has only being able to engage for 10 mins and none if this has been around autism.

Glamba · 21/12/2025 09:59

I can relate so much to where you are @Itsjusttoomuchtoday . We still have series of days at a time when the idea of leaving the house is an impossible dream. It must be harrowing to see this in a 9 year old. Hang in there. Maybe tomorrow will be a good day x

Itsjusttoomuchtoday · 21/12/2025 11:52

Glamba · 21/12/2025 09:59

I can relate so much to where you are @Itsjusttoomuchtoday . We still have series of days at a time when the idea of leaving the house is an impossible dream. It must be harrowing to see this in a 9 year old. Hang in there. Maybe tomorrow will be a good day x

Thank you. Today seems like a good day, she is happy, playing a little and has a friend coming over later.

My measure of what ia a good day is so far different to most parents.

BertieBotts · 21/12/2025 12:00

If it's all confidential, is there ever a scenario where you find out some info which would be useful for the child's parents/teacher/etc to know and what do you do in that situation?