Interplay Therapy Services
Service available in the Toowoomba area.
How can Interplay Therapy help my child? Who is it for?
Interplay is a play therapy modality suitable for people of all ages. It is mostly used with children and young people, alongside their primary caregiver. NDIS clients may be eligible to claim for this service (self and plan-managed only for ECEI).
Interplay focuses on attachment. Through therapeutic play and connection, a child can express worries, thoughts, feelings and trauma. These expressions can then be worked through within a safe space. The building of secure attachment has a flow-on effect to the child’s emotional and cognitive development.
Interplay therapy enables non-verbal children or those with limited verbal ability to show others what they are experiencing or feeling in a safe way. Rather than using words or interpretation, toys become expressive tools for the child. This is in contrast to more traditional counselling approaches where the focus may lie on developing words to externalise thoughts and dive deeper.
How did Interplay Therapy develop?
Interplay Therapy is a powerful combination of research-informed and clinical experience. It incorporates key findings with an understanding of the dynamic between attachment theory, trauma, and the impact this has on our relationships to self and each other.
Interplay Therapy has emerged as an effective approach in healing problematic aspects of child development. An Interplay facilitator creates a space for recovery to begin. The following are examples of experiences that can be supported: birth trauma, hospitalisation, illness, diagnosis, separation anxiety, trauma, abuse, divorce/separation, end of life, birth of siblings, life changes, big emotions, developmental delays, disability, and out of home care.
Therapeutic Interplay Therapy sessions are often sought for children who may be experiencing:
Hospitalisation & illness
Divorce or separation
School refusal
Bullying
Neurodiverse, including ADHD or ASD
Developmental delay
Aggressive or challenging behaviours
Grief and loss
Attachment issues
Adoption, fostering and out-of-home care issues
Trauma, abuse & neglect
Anxiety and childhood depression
What happens during a Therapeutic Interplay session?
During a face-to-face session, the Interplay facilitator works with the child and their primary caregiver for a fixed period of time. For older clients and more complex situations, other dynamics may be explored. These can include whole family systems, siblings, and peer groups and are discussed during the intake session.
Throughout the session, the child or young person is allowed to lead the play and connection. The interplay facilitator helps to bring the relationship into the present moment in a setting where reciprocal bonds can be foregrounded. During therapeutic play the facilitator observes and guides the child-led play, helping to reshape the connection and responsiveness of both participants.
By identifying and meeting needs during play, a reshaping of the brain can take place where the child becomes more able to cope with the novelty and stress of everyday life. In addition, the child receives a positive source of stress regulation and a sense of safety.
If you would like to find out more, please contact our friendly staff.