Play Therapy
At The Magic Portal, children get to explore unintegrated life experience through their language of play, in a safe and professional space. Cath has a Masters of Gestalt Psychotherapy and is a certified Synergetic Play Therapist which is a contemporary and progressive model of play therapy grounded in neuroscience, up-to-date trauma theory, child-centred play therapy and Gestalt Psychotherapy. Children help Cath understand what life is like for them through the games they create and the way in which they play. Integration of life’s challenges happens through the relationship with Cath who supports the child to tune into their bodies by co-regulating with them, connecting when dysregulated, naming what’s happening, what is being felt and reflecting that back authentically as an active participant in the play.
Synergetic Play Therapy (2008) is a research-informed model of play therapy blending the therapeutic powers of play with nervous-system regulation, interpersonal neurobiology, physics, attachment, mindfulness and therapist authenticity. It’s primary play therapy influences are Child-Centered, Experiential and Gestalt theories.
Although Synergetic Play Therapy is a model of play therapy, it’s also referred to as a way of being in relationship with self and other. It’s an all-encompassing paradigm that can be applied to any facet of life, and subsequently any model of play therapy can be applied to it or vice versa. Synergetic Play Therapy is both non-directive and directive in its application.
–Lisa Dion
“Safety isn’t the absense of threat. It’s the presence of connection”
What can I expect?
Intake
New referrals require a comprehensive intake when a history is taken and goals are set. Intakes are conducted with either or both parents and usually requires the consent of both parents if custody is shared. There are cases where this is not a requirement so please, if this seems challenging just give Cath a call and check.
Feedback
At the end of each session parents have an opportunity to hear from Cath about the themes from the session and it is also an opportunity for Cath to hear about any challenges at home or school, so that progress can be tracked against the goals. Although there will be some games and toys available for the child in the waiting room while Cath talks with parents/caregivers, some find that a phone or ipad is more engaging for their child and is acceptable for a short period of time. I will leave this up to you to decide what is right for your child, and ask that you arrange to bring a device if that is what you choose to do.
Parent Coaching
Children are generally seen weekly and sessions are 40-45 minutes long. Sessions involve only the child and the therapist, however, parents are encouraged to engage in parent coaching sessions. The initial parent coaching session is held with just Cath and the parent/s. This is a great opportunity for parents to learn skills which are slightly different from parenting such as co-regulation and learning to recognise what happens in the playroom and how to respond. A second session is then conducted with the child and the parent together. This is where real-time guidance is offered so that parents can integrate it into their time together at home. Parent coaching sessions are not compulsory but it is clear that sessions are value added when parents can support their child’s processes at home or at school.
Family Session
At times it may be suggested that a family session is conducted. This is when the whole family attends as a group to see if we can identify family dynamic challenges and patterns that may be holding individual progress back. This is something that could be explored as the need presents. However, most sessions are simply with the child.
Cath is a Certified Synergetic Play Therapist. SPT is the brainchild of Gestalt Therapist and Experiential Play therapist, Lisa Dion from Colorado, USA. Lisa has combined traditional play therapy fundamentals with contemporary research in trauma and neuroscience to formulate a richly relational form of play therapy that prioritises emotional safety and focuses on regulating the nervous system.
